5 Trades The VGK Should Consider For Robin Lehner
When Adin Hill made this save, did anybody else think about Robin Lehner… because I did.
ADIN HILL WITH THE GREATEST PADDLIN’ OF ALL TIME pic.twitter.com/nC1UhmaA4W
— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) June 4, 2023
If the Vegas Golden Knights want to re-sign Adin Hill, the team is going to need to find a trade partner for Lehner. With Lehner carrying a $5 million AAV, that money is going to need to be cleared in order to bring back Hill. With that in mind, let’s review five potential trades the VGK should consider for Lehner.
*no order* Simply because I’m not sure Vegas will get overly picky in sending out Lehner. I also don’t think the VGK should just give Lehner away. A team like the Kings are going to try to do the same thing with Cal Petersen. I think we can all agree Lehner even coming off injury has more value than Petersen. Lehner carries a very reasonable cap figure and teams should try to target him in a buy-low move.
Carolina Hurricanes:
These two teams did business last offseason. We know exactly how that went…
Could Carolina and Vegas spark a trade based on similar circumstances? Vegas wants to clear the cap and Carolina could plug in their goalie hole with a veteran option. The Canes do have cap space and Lehner is only under contract for two more years.
This will depend on if Carolina brings back Antti Raanta and or Freddie Andersen. With the emergence of Pyotr Kochetkov, Carolina probably wants to pair him with a veteran option. That could be Lehner if they feel as though they’re making a similar trade to the one last Summer. I’m sure their preference is to keep Andersen / Raanta. Free agency is never certain though. It’s at least a potential option as it’s been reported Don Waddell wants to heavily explore the trade market.
Columbus Blue Jackets:
Columbus wants to compete. They hired Mike Babcock for a reason. The Blue Jackets also have no goalie right now. Well, they do have Elvis Merzlikins but he’s also terrible. Daniil Tarasov is the only other goalie on the roster who sported a SV% last year of .892. This could be a rare spot where a bad team with cap space that’s trying to compete creates an opportunity to dump Lehner.
Maybe there is a prospect you like in the Jackets system. We also know Kelly McCrimmon and Jarmo Kekäläinen have a working relationship having made the Jonathan Quick trade at the deadline. The Jackets have a pretty deep farm system too so you very well may be able to find a gem in a Lehner deal.
Philadelphia Flyers: Carter Hart
Now we’re cooking with peanut oil. This scenario doesn’t involve bringing Hill back but possibly finding a long term option instead. Is there a way to have your cake and eat it too? Philadelphia is an intriguing trade partner for a multitude of reasons. The Flyers are on the verge of possibly tanking and Carter Hart has one year left on his deal prior to becoming a free agent.
Is there a way the Flyers can retain on Hart for one year while the Knights send Lehner plus future assets? The Flyers would add a goalie to the room they can build back up and sell down the line. Sending Hart to Vegas allows a young goalie to regain his confidence in a winning environment. I think it’s something both sides have to consider. The thought of having Hart play under Bruce Cassidy and this blue line is intriguing… It’s something that also lowers the cap and provides more space to bring back Barbashev.
Pittsburgh Penguins:
Kyle Dubas is the new man in charge of the Penguins which could be good news in finding a Lehner trade. Let’s just say Dubas is known for unconventional thinking at the goalie spot. Does anybody need to be reminded of the Matt Murray trade? Dubas has taken risks on goalies before so why not Lehner?
John Gibson could be another option for Pittsburgh considering that he’s from that area. However, Gibson has also been terrible rocking a career worst .899 SV% last year. With Tristan Jarry set to hit free agency, could Lehner be the guy that intrigues Dubas? Don’t forget, it sounds like the Penguins are still in win now mode. Bringing in a guy like Lehner could be something that makes sense for a veteran filled group.
The Penguins don’t have much to offer but they do have some cap space and need a goalie. I’ll leave the negotiating part up to McCrimmon.
Seattle Kraken: Chris Driedger
I actually think this idea works. Ideally, Seattle probably wants an upgrade over Martin Jones. Phillipp Grubauer had a strong postseason but has been terrible otherwise since coming to Seattle. Could the two expansion teams do business?
Chris Driedger carries an AAV of $3.5 million but that number can drop to $2.35 million while buried in the minors. Driedger has already cleared waivers and is likely to do so again. There is probably a way to move that Driedger money to a third team if necessary. Maybe you need the full $5 million that Lehner carries to bring back Hill and Ivan Barbashev at this point.
It’s mostly a matter of what the Knights are getting back for giving up Lehner and taking back a shaky Driedger deal. Maybe this is a way to replenish a draft pick that can be used down the line at the 2024 trade deadline.
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