Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Blackhawks sign bounce-back goalie Lehner

Written by 
Published in Hockey
Monday, 01 July 2019 16:11

The Chicago Blackhawks announced Monday that they have come to terms on a one-year, $5 million deal with Vezina Trophy finalist Robin Lehner.

Lehner is coming off a huge season with the New York Islanders that resurrected his career. He appeared to be in line for a longer-term contract.

Lehner has spoken about battling mental health and substance abuse issues for much of his nine-year career, but it came to a head in his last season in Buffalo in 2017-18. He got into treatment and turned his life and career around.

Signed before this past season to a one-year, $1.5-million, let's-see-how-it-goes contract, the 27-year-old showed the NHL just what he could do when his head was in a good space. He went 25-13-5 with a .930 save percentage and led the league with a 2.13 goals-against average.

He led New York to a sweep of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the playoffs. Though the Isles were swept by the Carolina Hurricanes in the next round, the fault didn't lie with Lehner. He led postseason goalies with a 2.00 goals-against average and .936 save percentage.

Lehner's $1.5 million deal was the lowest since his entry-level deal. He signed a three-year, $6.675 million contract with Ottawa in 2014 and a one-year, $4 million deal with Buffalo in 2017. After his Vezina Trophy-worthy season this year, he was due to get back to those higher levels.

Lehner had expressed interest in returning to the Islanders.

"I like the people there," he told media before the NHL Awards. "I love my teammates. I love the organization. So obviously I want to be back."

The Islanders instead signed former Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov to a four-year deal.

Chicago has Corey Crawford between the pipes, but he has battled concussion issues in recent seasons. He was limited to 39 games last season and only 28 the year before. The 34-year-old posted the highest goals-against average (2.93) and worst save percentage (.908) since he became a full-time goalie in 2010-11.

Crawford was backed up by veteran Cam Ward last season, but Ward had a 3.67 GAA and .897 save percentage.

Ward is an unrestricted free agent, and Crawford has one year left on his contract.

Read 473 times

Soccer

Napoli honor Maradona on anniversary of passing

Napoli honor Maradona on anniversary of passing

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNapoli fans and club officials paid tribute to Diego Maradona on th...

Ronaldo double bolsters Al Nassr's ACL place

Ronaldo double bolsters Al Nassr's ACL place

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCristiano Ronaldo netted a pair of goals in Al Nassr's Asian Champi...

Raya warns Arsenal of 'in-form' Gyökeres' threat

Raya warns Arsenal of 'in-form' Gyökeres' threat

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsDavid Raya has warned his Arsenal teammates that Sporting CP forwar...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Morant back for Grizzlies after missing 8 games

Morant back for Grizzlies after missing 8 games

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Ja Morant was in the lineup Monday night for the...

Rockets' VanVleet hit with $50K fine for tirade

Rockets' VanVleet hit with $50K fine for tirade

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsRockets guard Fred VanVleet was fined $50,000 by the NBA on Monday...

Baseball

Ex-big leaguer Chirinos joins O's as bench coach

Ex-big leaguer Chirinos joins O's as bench coach

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsBALTIMORE -- Robinson Chirinos replaced Fredi González on Monday as...

MLB alters Rays' schedule; 69 of last 103 on road

MLB alters Rays' schedule; 69 of last 103 on road

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- Major League Baseball switched a pair of series involvi...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated