Robin Lehner

Lehner started playing hockey relatively late at ten years old.[2] He had previously played soccer. He began playing hockey with Mölndal IF, and in only seven years he became one of the top Swedish goaltenders in his age group.[2][3] Lehner played for Frölunda HC until the 2008–09 season. After being drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the second round, 46th overall, in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, he moved to Canada to play for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

Lehner with the Binghamton Senators during the 2010–11 season.

On 29 March 2010, Lehner signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Ottawa Senators. Ottawa sports media suggested the "highly touted prospect" would provide a measure of stability and longevity to the Senators' goaltending, something the organization has rarely had since its inception.[4][5][6]

In 2010, following a successful season in Sault Ste. Marie, the Senators organization informed the team that Lehner would not be returning, as he would begin his time with the Binghamton Senators for the 2010–11 season.[7] Lehner made his AHL debut on 15 October 2010. The next day, Lehner was called up to Ottawa due to an injury to Pascal Leclaire. He made his NHL debut playing four minutes in the third period of a game against the Montreal Canadiens that night. With that debut at 19 years, two months and 24 days, Lehner became the youngest Swedish goaltender to play in the NHL, breaking Jhonas Enroth's record of 21 years, four months and 13 days.[8]

Lehner won his first NHL start when Ottawa defeated the New York Islanders 6–4 on 13 January 2011.[9] On 7 June 2011, Lehner was awarded the 2011 Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as the AHL's Calder Cup Most Valuable Player with the champion Binghamton Senators.[1]

Lehner with the Binghamton Senators in 2013.

On 17 May 2013, Lehner made his Stanley Cup playoff debut against the Pittsburgh Penguins, stopping 20 of 21 shots in relief of starter Craig Anderson.[10]

The 2013–14 season saw Lehner start the season in Ottawa for the first time after three years of tutelage in the AHL.[11] "I've lived with my suitcase from hotel to hotel. Now you have a base and you can start something," he said of finally being a full-time NHL player.[11] Observers began suggesting he may be a future franchise goaltender in the NHL.[11] On 11 November 2013, after posting a 3–0 record with a 1.33 goals against average (GAA) and .958 save percentage, Lehner was named the NHL's First Star of the Week.[12]

On 31 July 2014, Lehner signed a three-year, $6.675 million contract extension with Ottawa.[13]

Lehner with the Ottawa Senators during the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs.

On 26 June 2015, Lehner and David Legwand were traded to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Buffalo's 21st overall pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft (used to select Colin White).[14]

On 22 June 2018, the Sabres announced they would not tender Lehner a contract offer and would allow him to become an unrestricted free agent when his contract expired on 1 July.[15]

On 3 July 2018, Lehner signed as a free agent to a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the New York Islanders.[16] On 8 October, Lehner became the first goaltender in the Islanders' history to post a shutout in his debut with the team, leading them to a 4–0 win over the San Jose Sharks.[17]

On 6 April 2019, Lehner posted a 3–0 shutout over the Washington Capitals securing the William M. Jennings Trophy, which he shared with teammate Thomas Greiss.[18] On 11 April, he recorded his first playoff win against the Pittsburgh Penguins.[19]

On 21 June 2019, Lehner won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy which is given annually to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey. The league accidentally engraved the trophy with the wrong team, reading "Robin Lehner, New York Rangers."[20]

On 1 July 2019, Lehner signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Chicago Blackhawks.[21] Lehner was negotiating a new contract with the Islanders, but reportedly the team walked away from him during negotiations and signed former Colorado Avalanche goaltender Semyon Varlamov instead.[22]

On 24 February 2020, Lehner was traded by the Blackhawks, as part of a three-team trade, to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for a 2020 2nd round entry draft pick, Malcolm Subban, and prospect Slava Demin. He was initially dealt to the Toronto Maple Leafs for salary retention and prospect Mārtiņš Dzierkals before he was flipped to the Golden Knights for a 2020 fifth-round pick.[23]

On 23 August 2020, Lehner made 26 saves for his first playoff shutout in a 5–0 win over the Vancouver Canucks.[24] As the Golden Knights beat the Canucks and began competing in the Western Conference Finals against the Dallas Stars, rumours began to emerge that he had signed an extension with the team. Prior to the start of Game 4, Lehner denied such claims and admitted to talking to many teams.[25]

On October 3, 2020, Lehner agreed to a five-year, $25 million contract extension with the Golden Knights.[26]