Rumor: More to Lehner leaving the Islanders than meets the eye.

Rumblings of problems behind the scenes in New York.

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 4 years ago
Rumor: More to Lehner leaving the Islanders than meets the eye.
John Crouch/CSM/Zuma

This would certainly explain one of the more bizarre happenings in the National Hockey League's free agency period thus far. 

Earlier this week veteran goaltender Robin Lehner stunned the world when he made the decision to sign with the Chicago Blackhawks on just a one year deal, this after what was unarguably the strongest season of his tumultuous NHL career. It was perceived to be Lehner's big chance to finally cash in on his god given talents, but in the end it resulted in the veteran goalie signing a very modest contract instead.

After signing the deal Lehner appeared to express confusion, or at least a lack of understanding, as to why exactly the Islanders had chosen to walk away from him in negotiations. The move was made all the more confusing by the fact that the Islanders instead opted to sign veteran goaltender Semyon Varlamov to a 4 year deal worth a whopping $20 million, or an average annual value of $5 million. That is the exact dollar amount that Lehner got from the Blackhawks and with him being the younger goaltender, and the goalie coming off the much better season no less, it makes little to no sense as to why the Islanders did not stick with the guy they knew. At least not unless there is more than meets the eye.

In a recent article published for the New York Post, NHL insider Larry Brooks has revealed that there are indeed some rumblings in the NHL about what may have actually transpired between the Islanders and Robin Lehner. According to Brooks there has been talk around the league that would suggest that Lehner butted heads with Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello and that this had created a personal rift between the two.

From Brooks:

There is belief throughout the industry, though without verifiable underlying evidence because of Lamoriello’s unique ability to keep things in house, that something personal must have happened between the boss and the goaltender in the course of the talks. That theory has life to it because the hockey part of the decision does not make the slightest bit of sense.

In the end, Lamoriello almost made it sound as if the Islanders decided to throw an extra two years on Varlamov’s contract so he could be a mentor for the promising Ilya Sorokin, a third-round 2014 draft selection who has one more year remaining on his KHL contract.

Lou Lamoriello is still very much an old school type of general manager and I would not be the least bit surprised to see him usher out a player that had disrespected him in the past. To see him do it with a Vezina nominated goaltender however shows a great deal of confidence on the part of Lamoriello, confidence that may or may not be well placed. If Lehner comes out and has another dynamic season I think Semyon Varlamov will be hard pressed to match those efforts. 

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