Lehner’s deal hits a $ 5 million annual salary cap and runs through the 2024-25 season. Committing to Lehner is likely that Vegas will be somewhat removed from the face of franchise Marc-Andre Fleury, who led the team to the Stanley Cup Finals in their opening season in 2018.
Coach Peter DeBoer made his priority clear for Lehner when the NHL returned for an extended playoff. When he said he would use both goals, he started Lehner in 16 of the Golden Knights’ 20 postson games.
Leading Debier to Lehner, Flair’s agent Alan Walsh led his client during the second round to tweet an example through his back with a sword of the coach’s name. It was removed the next day, and Fleury stated that there were good relations between him and Lehner.
Lehner won by an average of 9-7 against 1.99 goals and saved .917 percent as Vegas advanced to the Western Conference Finals before losing to the Dallas Stars. Fleury was 3-1 with a 2.27 and .910.
The long-term contract meant some protection for Lehner, who played for four teams in the last three seasons. When word of the contract was agreed to come out, 30-year-old Swayed said during the playoffs that it had not been finalized but was comfortable with Vegas after trading began after the deadline in February .
Lehner said last month, “When I came here, I realized this: This team is just about winning and you deserve what you want.” “That’s, I think, what the winning teams do, and it’s not always been that way, so when I got here it’s refreshing and I felt that vibe and that culture to feel here. I feel hard. Had to work. ”
Lehner won perseverance for hockey, dedication to the sport and the Masterton Trophy last year for hockey after battling drug addiction and mental health problems. Despite helping the New York Islanders reach the second round in 2019, he went into free agency and signed a $ 5 million one-year deal with Chicago, which later sent him to Vegas.
He won’t bounce back and forth for the next while, although Flurry’s position is a major question mark. Flurry, who will turn 36 after the NHL season begins, has two years left on his contract with a 10-year no-trade clause on a cap hit of $ 7 million.
Fleury is a three-time Stanley Cup winner with Pittsburgh, who re-signed All-Star Tristan Zari on Saturday to a $ 10.5 million, three-year contract. Matt Murray, who won it in 2016 and 2017 together with Flurry, faces an uncertain future like his former partner.
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