The Chicago Blackhawks have dealt goaltender Robin Lehner to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for goalie Malcolm Subban, defence prospect Slava Demin, and a second-round pick, Sportsnet can confirm.
In addition, the Toronto Maple Leafs are retaining a portion of Lehner’s salary and will receive a fifth-round pick from Vegas in 2020. Toronto sends Martins Dzierkals to the Golden Knights in return.
Lehner, 28, is scheduled for unrestricted free agency on July 1 after signing a one-year, $5-million contract with Chicago last summer. The netminder had a remarkable comeback campaign in 2018-19 with the New York Islanders, sharing the crease with Thomas Greiss before locking up the starting gig in the playoffs where he posted otherworldly numbers. He’s been excellent this season, too, sharing starts in Chicago with Corey Crawford and posting a solid 3.01 goals against average and .918 save percentage to go with his 16-10-5 record behind a struggling Blackhawks blue line.
Lehner, who hinted to a trade just prior to the announcement of Monday’s deadline deal, is now poised get an opportunity to go back to the post-season with the Golden Knights. It looks like Vegas will split starts down the stretch between Lehner and No. 1 Marc-Andre Fleury, an elite one-two punch in net — a strategy many contenders have implemented of late, with much success.
Nice calm day in St. Louis. Anything special going on today on Twitter?
— Robin Lehner (@RobinLehner) February 24, 2020
Lehner also tweeted out a message of thanks to Blackhawks fans and greeted the Golden Knights faithful:
