The Sabres announced they traded their 21st overall pick (from the New York Islanders) to the Ottawa Senators for Goalie Robin Lehner and soon-to-be 35-year-old Center David Legwand. Tim Murray goes back to his roots in Ottawa getting a guy who he scouted and drafted. The price seems a little steep because he's 30-36-13 record with a 2.88 goals against average and a .914 save percentage. Essentially, the Sabres traded Thomas Vanek back in Oct. 2013 for Lehner and Legwand.
Lehner got off to a great start in his career with a .935 and .936 save percentages in the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons in limited starts. He got off to a great start with a .930 save % the first half of the 2013-14 season then ended the second half under .900 to finish with a .913. This past season, Lehner was sharing with Craig Anderson and only went 9-12-3 with a .905 save percentage before sustaining a concussion on Feb. 16 and did not play the rest of the season.
The emergence of Andrew Hammond last season further made Lehner expendable on the trade market. Hammond went 20-1-2 with a .941 save percentage following Lehner's injury and helped guide the Senators to the playoffs. Like I said, it seems like a steep price sending the 21st overall pick for him. There must be more than meets than eye however. Murray scouted him and spent time with him in the AHL and Ottawa so he must know about him and sees something in him.
The asking prices of Cam Talbot or Martin Jones must be too high and if that's the case and Lehner performs, then it's a steal. I am in the middle I don't think it's the worst move ever but definitely don't think it's the best move either. Andrew Peters is too unobjectionable about this giving it too much credit. You don't have to bash it but don't act like it's the best move ever as well. I will have to wait and see.
He turns 24 in July and has two years left on his deal and would only be a restricted free agent when his contract is done so maybe that drove the price up. Also, maybe there's more teams interested and Bryan Murray was trying to get the best offer possible and the Sabres gave him the best. Other teams probably weren't interested in offering a first round pick whereas the Sabres can and would.
I like some of the things I've read and heard about him. I've also liked what I heard about Ville Leino too but let's not go there. Lehner should benefit from a better team and hopefully a better offense and defense that the Sabres will have. Ottawa is not that great. Legwand means nothing too me, he's got only one-year left at $3 million and could be waived.
It will be interesting to see Lehner vs. Hammond goalie matchups. Did Tim Murray raise the goalie market up significantly? We'll see what others go for. New York and LA and others will definitely ask for much more than the Senators did. Will Murray part ways with next year's first round pick for a top-6 forward? Hopefully even though that pick can turn into a lottery top-3 pick if they miss the playoffs and get a top-3 pick in the lottery.
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