Robin Lehner’s absence from Golden Knights training camp to take (and not pass) his physical has led to the team reportedly considering its options. However, the netminder told Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman that his absence wasn’t unexpected:
All I can say at this time is everyone knows why I couldn’t be there. I am waiting calmly for things to be sorted out.
Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon has already indicated that Lehner won’t be reporting to the team this season. The 33-year-old hasn’t played the last two years after undergoing hip surgery and clearly, that will be three years based on McCrimmon’s statement. He’ll be LTIR-eligible once again as a result but Friedman notes that the team, Lehner, and the NHLPA are working through the unique circumstances of this situation so it might not quite be as simple as it has been the last couple of seasons.
More from out West:
- Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported in the latest 32 Thoughts podcast (audio link) that Cole Perfetti’s camp is believed to be using Ottawa’s two-year, $7.5MM agreement as a comparable in contract discussions, one that the Jets would likely want to avoid. The numbers between the two are quite close; Perfetti has 75 points in 140 career NHL games while Pinto checks in at 70 in 140. While Pinto’s agreement was actually his third contract, he wasn’t arbitration-eligible which still makes it a legitimate comparable agreement. Clearly, Winnipeg is looking for this deal to come in below that price point.
- New Oilers prospect Roby Jarventie will have to wait a little while longer to make his case for a roster spot. Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal notes that while the 22-year-old has recovered from his midseason knee surgery, he overcompensated on the other knee while recovering, leading to him needing to shut things down for a couple of weeks to recover. Jarventie played in seven games with Ottawa last season while adding 20 points in 22 AHL games and was acquired from the Sens this summer in mid-July.
pawtucket
Vegas will not have to hold his cap and he will still get LTIR
Because Vegas.
doghockey
Using collectively bargained salary cap rules sure has gotten Vegas to take up residence inside the melons of a lot of people on this site. Kinda funny!