Robin Lehner's future

[VoynovsParoleOfficer]

Really just wondering what Buffalo Fans think about Robin Lehner. He is an RFA at the end of the year... is this a guy Sabres fans want to bridge or sign long term? From what i've seen this year he has been very impressive. Massive goalie, gets on top of crease and squares shots up to the shots. Saw him last night at the Pru Center save 37 shots in a loss and was very impressed, days after he impressed me against the rangers in similar losing fashion. Would a post expansion trade be an option? (Personally would love to have him as a 1A/1B duo in New York for next couple of years if Raanta is lost after the season due to expansion or trades.

 

[Samsonite23]

He's definitely improving. Which makes sense since he's coming off the ankle injury last year and losing all the weight he had on. Never going to be an elite goalie due to his lack of rebound control and mobility, but he's been absolutely awesome lately and will be/is a solid starting goalie.

We're going to sign him. We just traded a 1st for him. It makes no sense to trade him to open up a vacancy in net for us.

 

[Mattilaus]

Among starters with 1000 minutes played this season he is 5th in 5v5 SV%. The only goalies ahead of him are Dubnyk, Holtby, Price, and Crawford.

I'd like to keep him. He is not the problem in Buffalo and there is no reason to let him go.

 

[Frosty415]

He'll get his way, or the crazy eyes come out.

 

[TalkingProuder]

He's playing well and only 25 years old. He's here as long as Tim Murray is here.

The only way he becomes available is if Sabres prospect Cal Petersen is also elite in the next few years.

 

[Oakstream]

He's been great and we will keep him.

 

[Kamiccolo]

I think he isn't elite, but he is average. He hasn't been the reason they lose games, but if he becomes one as the team improves, I'm sure he'll be shown the door.

 

[threeVo]

Solid goalie that will win a good number of games on an improved team. Not part of the problem

 

[SEALBound]

Friction with Bylsma will not be good long term...

 

[Aladyyn]

Friction with Bylsma will not be good long term...

Bylsma is at most going to get one more season, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Insomniac99]

I think he's an average goaltender who will make 1 or 2 great saves a night, will let in 1 or 2 horrible goals a night, and always puts himself way out of position.

 

[izzy]

No surprise he's finally playing to his potential. Tall goalies take a bit.

 

[Snippit]

Right now he's a low end starter.

I think he can trend upwards into an average to above-average starter.

He needs to stop flopping around and improve his rebound control, but he's been really good for the last 3 games and his numbers are there.

 

[Dr Quincy]

Right now he's a low end starter.

I think he can trend upwards into an average to above-average starter.

He needs to stop flopping around and improve his rebound control, but he's been really good for the last 3 games and his numbers are there.

This. He's probably around 20th with a chance to get to the 12-15 range. But the thing with goalies is that there really isn't much difference between guys in that 12-20 range or in the 20-30 range. Those guys will change within their rankings every year. Only a few guys are consistently top 10.

 

[FerrisRox]

He needs to work on his rebound control or it will eventually sink him.

He gets beaten way to often because of rebounds that other goaltenders would either not have allowed or directed to a safe area of the ice.

 

[enthusiast]

There's no real incentive to let him go seeing as whoever would replace him is probably around his skill level

 

[Selanne00008]

he will be signed. question is how much for. I'd like to lock up a top 15 (potentially) starting goalie for under what.. 4 mill a year? That would be great.

 

[obey86]

Seems like a lot of Sabres rag on him for whatever reason. Looking at his stats I don't understand why, but maybe I'm missing something.

 

[tsujimoto74]

Seems like a lot of Sabres rag on him for whatever reason. Looking at his stats I don't understand why, but maybe I'm missing something.

1) We traded a 1st round pick for him. Some posters are determined to dislike the guy because they disliked the trade.
2) He does suck at shootouts.

 

[danielpalfredsson]

He's a Tim Murray guy. He isn't going anywhere.

I'm not the biggest Sabres fan, so maybe there are things going on that I am missing. But a GM doesn't just give up the 21st pick in a deep draft for a player he drafted on a previous team and is intimately familiar with and then not commit to him long term. I wouldn't be surprised to see him sign 4-6 years, around 4M per.