After much uncertainty, Robin Lehner’s contract situation with the Vegas Golden Knights has been resolved. The team, the league, and the player’s association reached an agreement Thursday. The ruling: Lehner’s salary will not count against the Golden Knights’ cap.
Additionally, Lehner will still be paid the $4.4 million owed to him in the final year of his contract. The Swedish goaltender was signed to a five-year, $25 million deal in 2020, with an annual cap hit of $5 million.
Elliotte Friedman was among the first to report the news, acknowledging the special circumstances of the situation.
NHL/NHLPA have reached an agreement on Robin Lehner/Vegas.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) October 3, 2024
Simplest way to put it is this: Lehner’s contract will not count against the cap, but he will still be paid his salary.
“Unique situation,” as all sides have indicated
The agreement ended some speculation regarding the situation but still left unanswered questions. Lehner failed to report for his mandatory physical before training camp.
Both sides were vague when discussing the issue, with Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon describing “unique circumstances surrounding this situation.”
Many believed the team would attempt to terminate the goalie’s contract after the missed physical. Lehner stated on September 21st that all parties involved were aware of the reasons for his absence, and he was “waiting calmly for things to be sorted out.”
What it means for the Golden Knights
Flexibility. Before the agreement was finalized, Puckpedia had Vegas nearly $4 million over the salary cap. With Lehner’s $5 million cap hit off the books, the team now sits $1.46 million under the cap.
With Lehner coming off #VegasBorn cap per @FriedgeHNIC & @frank_seravalli, they have $1.46M Projected Cap Space with 23 active players (13F/8D/2G).
— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) October 3, 2024
Assuming no roster moves all year, this could fit additional annual cap hit of $6.7M at trade deadline
https://t.co/5ZOkVSWK6X pic.twitter.com/pbuMpS7pvV
Teams must be at or below the salary cap when submitting their season-opening roster before their first game. Vegas opens the regular season on Wednesday against the Avalanche, so this resolution comes just in time.
Lehner has not played for the Golden Knights since April of 2022. He spent the entirety of the last two seasons on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) and was expected to remain there this season before Thursday’s ruling.
Barring any surprise moves, Vegas will enter the season below the cap without utilizing the LTIR rule they have been known to make use of.
What it means for Lehner
Support. The 33-year-old has had a tumultuous hockey career rife with adversity. Injuries requiring surgery have sidelined him for the past two-plus seasons. He has also struggled with numerous challenges off the ice.
He has been through the NHL’s player assistance program and has been open in the past about his struggles with addiction and mental health. He spoke in detail about these issues when he was awarded the Masterson Trophy in 2019.
Aside from these physical and mental challenges, he also faces financial problems. He and his wife filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in late 2022. The case is still ongoing and has seen the couple’s assets frozen, along with accusations of fraud and “frivolous spending.”
What it means for the NHL and the fans
All involved parties have emphasized the ‘uniqueness’ of this situation. In doing so, it absolves any precedent being set for future proceedings. Until any further information is made public, nobody aside from the Knights, the NHLPA, or Lehner knows the details of the case.
Cue the Vegas conspiracy theories. Any outsider conclusions are pure speculation, but that has not stopped fans from expressing their opinions. The Golden Knights are polarizing, especially when the cap is involved.
All reports of the agreement have been met with heaping doses of negative comments from fans. All the usual tropes of the Knights being favored by the NHL, and the league is bailing out their “golden child” (pun intended) as usual.
What is being widely ignored is the benefit to the player in this outcome. The team likely could have terminated his contract without paying his salary, but instead, a solution benefitting both Vegas and Lehner was reached.
Fair or unfair, the Golden Knights will not receive the benefit of the doubt from most NHL fans, who already view their LTIR and cap manipulation as dubious.
Regardless, the Robin Lehner saga in Vegas has concluded. He has continued to advocate for mental health awareness, and we should all wish him the best.