Years later we are going to look back at the Robin Lehner story with awe, nostalgia and a feeling that it all passed in the blink of an eye, and ended almost nonsensically.
The Vezina finalist, Jennings and Masterton trophies-winning goalie is leaving the New York Islanders , who were chasing other goalies all week. But get this: it’s for only a one-year, $5 million free agent contract with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Lehner’s exit wasn’t exactly by his own design. He consistently professed interest in staying with the Islanders — even waiting to even talk to other teams — but for a variety of reasons the Islanders’ budget and his own asking price or term never matched up, or at least never matched up when push came to shove.