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The Sens have acquired a first-round pick (21st overall) from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Robin Lehner and David Legwand.
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This is great, much better than what I expected. Losing Legwand is very important because it frees up $3M in cap space and we have zero need for him. Lehner is just redundant on our team at this point, and that first rounder could lead to something very interesting! -
It could lead to something interesting indeed. If we can get a good forward like Konecny, Bittner or Eriksson Ek with the first pick, I'd like to target a two-way defenseman - particularly Jakub Zboril or Jacob Larsson with the second.
There is always the possibility of packaging those two picks for a pick in or near the top ten as well (I believe Dorion said the 2nd dropoff is around twelve), or even using one as a piece in a trade for a top six forward or top four defenseman.Comment
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Great return.Comment
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Robin Lehner walked out the door with his head held high and showed a lot of class.
Now, he's looking out for No. 1.
The Senators' goaltender was a little disappointed at being dealt away from Ottawa with winger David Legwand Friday in exchange for a first round pick but the 23-year-old Lehner told the Sun he's excited about a new challenge with the Buffalo Sabres and especially the opportunity to be a top goalie.
While he made it clear during a telephone conversation from his home in Gothenburg, Sweden Saturday he can't say enough good things about his time in Ottawa, Lehner isn't convinced he ever had a shot to beat out Craig Anderson for the top job, especially under former coach Paul MacLean.
In saying that, he noted "that's on me" and "maybe I have to deal with it better."
"It's hard to say. Not really," said Lehner about getting the chance to be a top goalie here. "They gave me a lot of things and I can't talk good enough about them. They brought me in when I was young. They gave me all the tools. They helped me become a professional and a man. They helped me with so many different things I can't thank them enough.
"But I think there was something between me and Paul (MacLean) that didn't click when he was there. He came from a veteran team in Detroit where it takes a long time for the young guys to break through I think. It was nothing personal between us I don't think. It just seemed like when I'd start getting hot I didn't get the chance to play and that happened on several occasions.
"Then, I didn't play for awhile and then it was just some bad luck. Craig got injured a few years in a row when and I hadn't played in awhile. Maybe that's something I have to work on, my maturity level ... I don't know what happened but I wasn't happy with the way things played out. I think I came out of the gate good every season, I'd play good and then I didn't get to play anymore. That's something I've got to work on going forward. People have different opinions. I can only speak for myself, but that's my opinion."
GM Bryan Murray didn't disagree with Lehner's assessment.
"That's what I said all along. Somebody asked me what Robin has to do to get better and I said, 'Just get a net to play in on a regular basis.' If you don't give them the ice time or net to play in even if they have a bad game, but we weren't in that position with Craig Anderson being the goaltender he is," Murray said after the draft. "Why did (Cam) Talbot get traded from the New York Rangers? He needs net and Henrik (Lundqvist) wasn't going to give it to him.
"In Ottawa it was easy to go back to Craig because he's a good goaltender and I think he's top 10 goaltender in the league. Robin sat and waited and waited and he only played when Craig got hurt or was tired and that's not good enough for a young guy."
Lehner is aware that situation could have changed under coach Dave Cameron but he was injured in mid-February and never got the opportunity to return. Then, it became abundantly clear to him he was going to be dealt when the club signed Andrew (The Hamburglar) Hammond to a contract extension.
"I got my concussion against Carolina and it was my first major injury. It was a tough time for me personally," he admitted. "I struggled for a long time with the concussion. Hammond came in and played fantastic and all the rewards to him and he deserved it. I wish him the best. I wish the team best.
"He took over and he deserves the shot. They felt Craig Anderson was the way to go (as the No. 1) and I totally respect that. I'm always going to have a lot of love for Ottawa."
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Taken from the Ottawa SunComment
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Great article, and very professional of Lehner to speak that way and speak the truth while still being grateful and wishing the team the best.Comment
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Yeah, pretty classy interview by Lehner.
My only concern with the trade was that we dealt him within the division. We don't know what other deals were being offered, perhaps no other 1st picks were in play. If Lehner pans out, we'll have Bishop and Lehner haunting us in the divison. Still ... you take the best offer and run with it. Really happy/surprised we got a 1st round pick for Lehner while also dealing Legwand.Comment
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Very impressed with both Lehner and Murray's comments here. They're both exactly right. Lehner is not going to get any better riding the bench, but Ottawa also can't just turf Craig Anderson given the current expectations of this team (i.e. make the playoffs). Lehner will be a good goalie someday...
I watch a lot of soccer. We don't have player loans in the NHL but that would have been the ideal scenario...let him get 60 starts with a team that desperately needs him this season, have that team pay his salary, and still retain his future rights.Comment
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I wonder if loans could ever work in the NHL..Originally posted by Matt the AussieComment
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