Well, it looks as though Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman may have to scratch off one name of the potential list of candidates he could court this offseason to bring to the Motor City.
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According to a report from ESPN NHL writer Greg Wyshynski, the Vegas Golden Knights have a handshake agreement in place for pending free-agent goaltender Robin Lehner. Though he was sure to note that nothing has been yet set in stone, he reported that the alleged deal is worth $25 million over five years.
Lehner himself said that nothing has been finalized prior ahead of their Western Conference Finals Game 4 against the Dallas Stars in the NHL Bubble in Edmonton.
“It’s not true,” said Lehner on Friday. “I’ve been on a lot of teams lately, obviously. You have some talks. Where you’re at. What you want to do. Nothing has been finalized. We’re here.”
Since his acquisition from the Chicago Blackhawks at the NHL Trade Deadline earlier in the season, Lehner has essentially supplanted Marc-Andre Fleury as the starter in the Vegas crease. So far in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, he’s gone 9-5 with a .921 save percentage, a 1.92 goals-against average and four shutouts.
Lehner is one of the top names available on the goaltending free-agent list for 2020. However, if Wyshynski’s source is correct, Yzerman and the Red Wings will have to look elsewhere to shore up their crease alongside Jonathan Bernier and the expected departure of Jimmy Howard.
– – Quotes via Greg Wyshynski of ESPN Link – –
