Robin Lehner ready to seize role as Golden Knights’ No. 1 goalie

The nett astatine the northbound extremity of City National Arena was guarded by the aforesaid goalie for 4 years.

Even erstwhile Marc-Andre Fleury took a uncommon time disconnected from practice, each of his goaltending partners with the Golden Knights remained successful beforehand of the southbound net. There seemed to beryllium an unspoken — oregon possibly it was spoken down closed doors — knowing that the crease closest to the location seat belonged to the aboriginal Hall of Famer.

Fleury is present successful Chicago, traded for $7 cardinal of wage headdress space that was utilized to upgrade the roster elsewhere. Robin Lehner is the undisputed No. 1 goaltender entering the Knights’ 5th season.

But connected the archetypal time of grooming camp, Lehner skated consecutive for the southbound extremity and claimed that net.

It could person been thing much than habit. He mightiness similar the presumption amended from there.

Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner during signifier astatine City National Arena successful Las Vegas Monday, Oct.. 4, 2021. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Or, possibly Lehner wanted to debar much symbolism of replacing Fleury.

“I deliberation helium knows he’s got immoderate large shoes to fill,” manager Pete DeBoer said. “At the aforesaid time, you don’t regenerate Marc-Andre Fleury. I don’t deliberation it’s just to enactment that anticipation connected him. I person nary doubt, though, that this feline is committed to giving america fantabulous goaltending each twelvemonth and title goaltending each year.”

Lehner, 30, is expected to enarthrosis the bulk of the workload for the Knights, with Laurent Brossoit signed arsenic a escaped cause to service arsenic the backup.

It’s the archetypal clip since 2018 erstwhile Lehner was the full-time starter successful Buffalo that helium volition beryllium successful that role. He divided clip with Fleury aft being portion of timeshares for the New York Islanders and Chicago.

But the Knights didn’t motion Lehner to a five-year, $25 cardinal declaration successful 2020 and past woody the look of the franchise for thing but headdress abstraction to person him alternate starts.

“Robin’s our rock. He’s proven that since he’s been here,” skipper Mark Stone said. “I’m excited for him. I deliberation he’s going to instrumentality the situation and tally with it. He’s wanted this for four, five-odd years present since helium benignant of rejuvenated himself successful Long Island. It’s a large accidental for him. I cognize he’s going to instrumentality it and run.”

In mentation for the season, Lehner dropped respective pounds and began grooming with John Wood of Syndicate MMA successful Las Vegas.

The alteration was designed to prolong Lehner’s vocation aft his declaration expires successful 4 years and amended his question successful the crease. Lehner admitted to playing good supra his listed value of 240 pounds the past 3 seasons.

“The feline could astir apt beryllium a combatant contiguous if helium truly wanted to bash it,” Wood said. “I emotion moving with him. He’s specified a professional. I’ve been precise impressed.

“He’s travel successful and worked truthful hard. He’s astir apt down 10 to 15 pounds conscionable successful the abbreviated magnitude of clip we’ve been moving together. There’s nary uncertainty he’s successful large signifier going into the season.”

Despite a dilatory commencement and a concussion that kept him retired for much than a month, Lehner went 13-4-2 past play with a 2.29 goals-against average, .913 prevention percent and shared the Jennings’ Trophy with Fleury for fewest goals against.

During grooming camp, helium ruffled feathers crossed the NHL with his comments connected Twitter accusing teams of aesculapian malpractice. Lehner besides said Flyers manager Alain Vigneault should beryllium fired for mistreating players. And helium admitted connected the “Spittin’ Chiclets” podcast this was his astir pressure-filled season.

Yet, the Knights person nary crushed to expect determination to beryllium a drop-off successful nett contempt trading the reigning Vezina Trophy winner.

In the past 3 seasons, Lehner ranks 2nd successful the league successful prevention percent (.923) by goaltenders with 50 oregon much appearances. He’s No. 1 among goalies who person appeared successful 100 oregon much games.

“At the extremity of the day, we person a truly bully squad and we person precocious expectations,” Lehner said. “I deliberation each the guys consciousness truly bully astir going into the season. I consciousness good, and we’re precise motivated.”

Contact David Schoen astatine dschoen@reviewjournal.com oregon 702-387-5203. Follow @DavidSchoenLVRJ connected Twitter.