Robin Lehner

Robin Lehner

Lehner during the 2013 playoffs while a member of the Ottawa Senators
Born (1991-07-24) 24 July 1991
Gothenburg, Sweden
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 240 lb (110 kg; 17 st 2 lb)
Position Goaltender
Catches Left
NHL team
Former teams		 Buffalo Sabres
Ottawa Senators
NHL Draft 46th overall, 2009
Ottawa Senators
Playing career 2009–present

Robin Lehner (born 24 July 1991) is a Swedish professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL). Lehner was selected by the Ottawa Senators in the second round, 46th overall, of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft and was the recipient of the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as MVP of the 2011 Calder Cup playoffs with the champion Binghamton Senators, Ottawa's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate.[1]

Playing career

Lehner started playing hockey relatively late at ten years old.[2] He had previously played soccer. He began playing hockey with Mölndal IF, and in only seven years he became one of the top Swedish goaltenders in his age group.[2][3] Lehner played for Frölunda HC until the 2008–09 season. After being drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the second round, 46th overall, in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, he moved to Canada to play with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

Ottawa Senators

On 29 March 2010, Lehner signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Ottawa Senators. Ottawa sports media suggested that the "highly touted prospect" would provide a measure of stability and longevity to the Senators' goaltending, something the organization has rarely had since its inception.[4][5][6]

In 2010, following a successful season in Sault Ste. Marie, the Senators organization informed the team that Lehner would not be returning, as he would begin his time with the Binghamton Senators for the 2010–11 season.[7] Lehner made his AHL debut on 15 October 2010. The next day, Lehner was called up to Ottawa due to an injury to Pascal Leclaire. He made his NHL debut playing four minutes in the third period of a game against the Montreal Canadiens that night. With that debut at 19 years, two months and 24 days, Lehner became the youngest Swedish goaltender to play in the NHL, breaking Jhonas Enroth's record of 21 years, four months and 13 days.[8]

Lehner won his first NHL start when Ottawa defeated the New York Islanders 6–4 on 13 January 2011.[9] On 7 June 2011, Lehner was awarded the 2011 Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as the AHL's Calder Cup Most Valuable Player with the champion Binghamton Senators.[1]

On 17 May 2013, Lehner made his Stanley Cup playoff debut against the Pittsburgh Penguins, stopping 20 of 21 shots in relief of starter Craig Anderson.[10]

The 2013–14 season saw Lehner start the season in Ottawa for the first time after three years of tutelage in the AHL.[11] "I’ve lived with my suitcase from hotel to hotel. Now you have a base and you can start something," he said of finally being a full-time NHL player.[11] Observers began suggesting that he may be a future franchise-goalie in the NHL.[11] On 11 November 2013, after posting a 3–0 record with a 1.33 goals against average (GAA) and .958 save percentage, Lehner was named the NHL's First Star of the Week.[12]

On 31 July 2014, Lehner signed a three-year deal with the Senators worth $6.675 million.[13]

Buffalo Sabres

On 26 June 2015, Lehner and David Legwand were traded by the Senators to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for the 21st overall pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft (Colin White).[14]

International play

Lehner has competed internationally for Sweden in the 2009 IIHF World U18 Championships in Fargo, North Dakota, and Moorhead, Minnesota, where Sweden placed fifth. He competed for starting goaltender at the 2011 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in Buffalo, New York.[7]

Playing style

Lehner is a butterfly-style goalie who uses his large frame to his advantage. Despite his size, he remains quite mobile with good lateral movement.[2] Following the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Senators' scouting staff described Lehner's style as very competitive with good technique and a willingness to aggressively challenges shooters. Team Sweden Head Coach Stephan Lundh described him as a "steady, calm person. He's very determined."[15]

Robin's father Michael has helped coach New York Rangers' goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, and has had a big influence on both goaltender's playing styles. His father never played goaltender, so he would often use his son as a "guinea pig" for Lundqvist.[2] Michael Lehner has done various forms of martial arts at an elite level and took his knowledge of movement over to goaltending.[2] Michael Lehner is currently the goaltending coach for Frölunda HC, Lundqvist's and Robin Lehner's former team.

Personal life

When longtime Senators' captain Daniel Alfredsson signed with the Detroit Red Wings in 2013, he sold his house in Ottawa to Lehner.[16] Lehner is a fan of melodic death metal and in particular Swedish band In Flames, who originate from Lehner's home town of Gothenburg. The band influenced the design on Lehner's mask.[17]

Lehner and his wife, Donya Lehner (née Naini) welcomed their first child, son Lennox, on 30 October 2014.[18] Donya is of Persian decent. Politically, Lehner supported Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential election.[19]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L OTL MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2007–08 Frölunda HC Swe U18 19 — — — 1147 34 6 1.78 — 4 — — 243 15 0 3.70 —
2008–09 Frölunda HC Swe Jr. 22 — — — 1318 67 1 3.05 .903 1 — — 58 3 0 3.08 —
2008–09 Frölunda HC Swe U18 2 — — — 117 5 0 2.56 — 7 — — 438 19 0 2.60 —
2009–10 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds OHL 47 27 13 3 2574 120 5 2.80 .918 5 1 4 279 20 0 4.29 .874
2009–10 Binghamton Senators AHL 2 2 0 0 120 6 0 3.00 .898 — — — — — — — —
2010–11 Binghamton Senators AHL 22 10 8 2 1246 56 3 2.70 .912 19 14 4 1112 39 3 2.10 .939
2010–11 Ottawa Senators NHL 8 1 4 0 341 20 0 3.52 .888 — — — — — — — —
2011–12 Binghamton Senators AHL 40 13 22 1 1156 119 2 3.26 .907 — — — — — — — —
2011–12 Ottawa Senators NHL 5 3 2 0 299 10 1 2.01 .935 — — — — — — — —
2012–13 Binghamton Senators AHL 31 18 10 2 1841 65 3 2.12 .938 — — — — — — — —
2012–13 Ottawa Senators NHL 12 5 3 4 735 27 0 2.20 .936 2 0 1 49 2 0 2.45 .920
2013–14 Ottawa Senators NHL 36 12 15 6 1942 99 1 3.06 .913 — — — — — — — —
2014–15 Ottawa Senators NHL 25 9 12 3 779 74 0 3.02 .905 — — — — — — — —
2015–16 Buffalo Sabres NHL 21 5 9 3 1155 48 1 2.47 .924 — — — — — — — —
2015–16 Rochester Americans AHL 3 1 2 0 179 10 0 3.36 .888 — — — — — — — —
2016–17 Buffalo Sabres NHL 59 23 26 8 3406 152 2 2.68 .920 — — — — — — — —
NHL totals 166 58 71 26 9,358 430 5 2.76 .918 2 0 1 49 2 0 2.43 .920

International

Year Team Event Result GP W L T/OTL MIN GA SO GAA SV%
2009 Sweden WJC18 5th 4 — — — 236 11 1 2.80 .916
2011 Sweden WJC 4th 3 1 1 0 195 9 1 2.77 .906
Junior totals 7 — — — 431 20 2 — —

Awards and recognitions

References

  1. 1 2 "Binghamton Senators capture Calder Cup". The Sports Network. 2011-06-15. Retrieved 2011-06-15.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Robin Lehner". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
  3. ↑ "Lehner, Robin: Draft Prospect Card - 2009". nhl.com. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
  4. ↑ Brennan, Don (26 May 2010). "Senators, Brodeur ink one-year deal". ottawasun.com. Sun Media. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
  5. ↑ Garrioch, Bruce (9 September 2009). "Fast Lehner too good for junior?". ottawasun.com. Sun Media. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
  6. ↑ Brennan, Don (21 April 2010). "Goalie graveyard for Sens:Year after year, netminders can't carry team". ottawasun.com. Sun Media. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
  7. 1 2 Tony (24 August 2010). "SnapShot: Robin Lehner". senshot.com. SenShot. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
  8. ↑ Uffe Bodin (17 October 2010). "Lehner historisk i natt" (in Swedish).
  9. ↑ ASSOCIATED PRESS (14 January 2011). "LEHNER GETS WIN IN FIRST START, SENS TOP ISLES IN HIGH-SCORER". tsn.ca. The Sports Network. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
  10. ↑ "Pens defeat Sens". The Sports Network. 2013-05-17. Retrieved 2013-05-17.
  11. 1 2 3 LeBrun, Pierre (27 September 2013). "Look for the kid to push the vet in Ottawa". ESPN. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  12. ↑ The Canadian Press (11 November 2013). "Sens’ Lehner named NHL’s 1st star after 3-0 week". Sportsnet. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  13. ↑ Robb, Peter (31 July 2014). "Ottawa Senators sign Robin Lehner to a three-year contract". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  14. ↑ "Sens trade Lehner, Legwand to Sabres". The Sports Network. 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2015-06-26.
  15. ↑ Gunning, Holly (26 April 2009). "2009 prospects: Robin Lehner". hockeysfuture.com. Hockey's Future. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
  16. ↑ Friday Four: Farewell to Alfredsson, love for Sabres http://www.nhl.com/ice/blogpost.htm?id=34514
  17. ↑ http://senators.nhl.com/club/blogpostprint.htm?id=15338
  18. ↑ Don Brennan (2014-11-20). "Senators goalie Robin Lehner juggling fatherhood, consistency between the pipes". Ottawa Sun. Retrieved 2015-05-19.
  19. ↑ John Vogl (20 January 2017). "Inside the Sabres: Robin Lehner, his Trump mask, the backlash". Buffalo News. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
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