The Detroit Red Wings‘ season is winding down, and unfortunately, they have a solid grip on last place out of 31 teams in the NHL.
Of course, the silver lining is that they currently have the best odds to land the first overall draft selection this June, but that isn’t doing too much to lift the spirits of fans in the Motor City.
GM Steve Yzerman will have his work cut out for him this summer, as he’ll likely be far more active in shaping the team than he was in his first year on the job – a season that he said was going to be mostly used for observation and taking everything in.
While there’s yet to be any major indication as to what the changes in the roster may look like, one near-certainty is that goaltender Jimmy Howard won’t be on the team next year.
The veteran has tragically struggled through his worst season in the NHL, with a 2-23-2 record and not having seen the win column since late October. He’s set to become an unrestricted free-agent come July.
One free-agent to-be candidate who is hitting the market this summer makes a great deal of sense for Yzerman to place a call to – Swedish netminder Robin Lehner.
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Currently with the Vegas Golden Knights after a Trade Deadline deal that saw him move from the Windy City to Sin City, Lehner, 28, continues to author an amazing bounce back story after his well-noted struggles with mental illness and depression. Last season with the New York Islanders, he was a Vezina Trophy finalist as well. And now, he’s giving the Golden Knights a solid tandem alongside Stanley Cup winning veteran Marc-Andre Fleury.
With a 18-10-5 record on the season, Lehner is going to be one of the more sought-after goaltenders on the market. His 6′ 4″, 239 lb frame is a commodity, and he’s shown the ability to win games on his own.
Inking Lehner would provide some much needed stability in Detroit’s crease alongside veteran Jonathan Bernier, and would give the team a respectable 1-2 tandem.
Of course, Detroit’s rich history of Swedish talent could be intriguing for Lehner as well.
Yzerman will be busy on the phones this summer, and placing a call to Lehner’s camp would set the stage for an instant and desperately needed upgrade in the Red Wings’ crease.
