Rumor: Robin Lehner frustrated by contract negotiations with the Blackhawks.

We are now just a few short days from the National Hockey League's trade deadline for the 2019 - 2020 NHL regular season and in spite of the fact that time is theoretically running out to get a deal done the Chicago Blackhawks and star goaltender Robin Lehner have yet to work out a deal. A deal that once seemed like it would be a no brainer, Lehner has been one of the most consistent performers in goal over the past two NHL seasons and has continued to shine as a member of the Blackhawks organization, now seems like it may never get done and some now believe that it has the veteran goaltender feeling frustrated.

In a recent article for The Athletic, Chicago Blackhawks insider Scott Powers shared his thoughts on the ongoing negotiations and he is now of the opinion that Lehner's recent absence when it comes to speaking to the media is no coincidence. Instead the Blackhawks insider believes that Chicago's unwillingness to commit to Lehner long term may have the talented netminder feeling frustrated and could potentially even lead to a trade ahead of the deadline.

From Powers:

There is likely something to be read into Lehner’s lack of communication lately. He has to be frustrated by negotiations. He was hopeful his next contract with the Blackhawks would go a lot smoother than his last one with the New York Islanders.

Now that may seem crazy on the surface but Powers also believes that the top brass in the Blackhawks organization is now seriously weighing a potential rebuild, and signing a talented goaltender long term would not make the most sense in the world in those circumstances. There may also be another factor at play here however. Powers also spoke to a league source that believes that players will be at a premium at the deadline this time around and a player of Lehner's stature could fetch the kind of return that could very well help a team with their eyes on a rebuild

“One opinion is the Blackhawks are well aware of what it will take to sign him and I believe it is the term they are struggling with,” said the source as per Powers. “That said, I believe they will see what assets they can get and will pull the trigger if they believe it meets the threshold of value. The prices have been high this year, and the sellers have high hopes for a return. Will certainly be interesting as pieces start to fall.”

If Lehner is indeed traded he would be playing for his third team in the past two seasons and you know that was not his plan when he signed a one year deal with the Blackhawks this summer, a deal that was very much a gamble on his part. At this point I think it is safe to say that Lehner's gamble has paid off and that a big new contract is coming his way in the near future, but now it sounds more and more like that contract may not come from general manger Stan Bowman or the Chicago Blackhawks.