Before this past season, not a lot of people expected Robin Lehner to be in Las Vegas this week for the NHL Awards ceremony. But that’s where the Islanders goalie was, winning the Masterton Trophy for the “player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey,” while finishing as the third finalist for the Vezina Trophy. That award, to the NHL’s top goaltender, was won by the Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevskiy with the Stars’ Ben Bishop second.
Lehner was a shoo-in for the Masterton. After having fought his way back from mental illness and substance abuse, the 27-year-old finished second in the league in save percentage (.