On Friday while at the NHL Draft in Dallas, Buffalo Sabres GM Jason Botterill said that he would be declining to tender goalie Robin Lehner a contract extension offer.
The reasons were not personal. It's strictly business. Botterill has since thanks Lehner for his three years of service and for his support and advocacy of the Buffalo hockey community. Lehner has grown an attachment to blue collar, gritty Buffalo hockey fans. He gave them an honest effort every time he took his crease.
The Sabres will not extend Lehner a one-year qualifying offer of about $4 million to retain his rights as a restricted free agent. The decision means Lehner will become free to sign with any team once the NHL’s free agency period opens on July 1.
“It’s a scenario where you finish 31st you have to make some difficult choices,… Botterill told reporters in Dallas.
“Part of it that was so disappointing and difficult about it is that I know Robin is passionate about the city of Buffalo, and passionate about helping this organization,… he said. “We felt like we had to make some adjustments.…
Lehner would tell you that he wishes it would have ended differently for he and the fans in Buffalo.
Serious injuries forced him to miss 61 games his first season in Blue & Gold. He started 59 and 53 games respectively in his final two seasons,
Lehner is now an unrestricted free agent.
Botterill is giving Linus Ullmark one of the goalie jobs in Buffalo. Ullmark, a two-time AHL All Star, will be sharing the Sabres crease with a goalie not yet employed by the Sabres. Botterill wil not be handing an 82-game schedule to Ullmark, who will likely get 40-45 starts this season as he continues his maturation process. Botterill is currently working his trade sources and his free agent goalie opportunities.
Botterill has expressed interest in St. Louis Blues pending UFA Carter Hutton. He is also interested in Philadelphia Flyers RFA Petr Mrazek and Pittsburgh Penguins youngster Tristan Jarry. The Sabres are also being linked to Ottawa Senators free agent goalie Craig Anderson.
Craig Custance of The Athletic says that multiple sources confirmed that 26-year-old Lehner made an in-person visit to Detroit on Tuesday. Lehner met with Red Wings GM Ken Holland and team coaches.
Lehner was traded to the Sabres on NHL Draft day in 2015. Then Sabres GM Tim Murray traded his 21st overall pick to his uncle Bryan Murray and the Ottawa Senators for Lehner and veteran forward David Legwand. The trade caused widespread panic in Buffalo, where Lehner became a polarizing figure. A segment of Sabres fans could not forgive Murray for traduing the 21st overall pick for a career then career back up goalie. Lehner sat behind Craig Anderson in Ottawa. He was given the Buffalo net by Tim Murray and then head coach Dan Bylsma. Tim Murray had positive history with Lehner as they won a Calder Cup championship together in Bingampton.
In his three seasons in Buffalo, Lehner started 129. He was 42-61-22, with a .916 SV% and 2.77 GAA. Lehner posted 6 shutouts while with the Sabres.
The Red Wings have also spoken with the agents for Carter Hutton and Jonathan Bernier.
**
When 2018 first overall draft choice Rasmus Dahlin meets 1970 first overall draft pick Gilbert Perreault, the result is magic!
On Tuesday, Dahlin and Perreault took to th estreets of Buffalo to meet and greet fans.