One of the biggest conundrums facing the Ottawa Senators this off-season is what to do between the pipes. And of that three-headed monster, the biggest question mark might just be the focus of today's Senators' report card, Robing Lehner.
PRE-SEASON EXPECTATION
This was the fifth full pro season in the career of Lehner, a highly touted prospect but entered the season still just 23 years old. He had seen some action in each of his four previous pro seasons. This was the year where Lehner was expected to make his move and put the pressure on Craig Anderson for significant playing time.
WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED
It started out roses for Lehner, who went 3-0-1 in October, allowing just 2 goals against in regulation of each of those starts.
Then, like the team itself, the wheels kind of fell of his game. During the November-December swoon that resulted in Coach MacLean losing his team and then his job, Lehenr went 2-4. It didn't get much better for Lehenr when Dave Cameron took over the reins, as the Swede struggled as he followed a win and an OT loss with 3 straight regulation losses. He became firmly entrenched as the backup, until Anderson's hand injury gave him the opportunity to put a string of games together and hopefully re-assert himself and get his game in form.
He made 9 straight starts, going 3-5-1 before the collision with teammate Clarke MacArthur ended up seeing both players leave with concussions, and Lehner basically hasn't been seen since.
We all know what happened when Andrew Hammond was forced into action, thus the situation that the Senators are in today.
THE HARD STATS
THE FANCY STATS
Look at Lehner's numbers as compared to some other backups who made some news this season as well as some familiar names.
THE "KEY" STATS
There were just 6 goalies (and two of those were Edmonton Oilers) who had a lower Save Percentage on Low Percentage scoring chances than Lehner's 95.61, and Lehner was the lowest non-Oiler who played more than 11 games.
FUTURE OUTLOOK
This is where it gets dicey. There are a lot of questions surrounding Lehner, his health being a big one. Even at the end of the season he was still not doing any physical activity as the after-effects of the concussion still lingering.
Lehner is ultra-competitive, but sometimes that spirit is detrimental and he seems to have difficulty letting things go, turning molehills into mountains.
That being said, since 2000 there have been just 10 goalies under 23 who have suited up for 40 games or more in a season and only 5 have posted 25 wins or more before that age. Lehner will turn 24 this summer and now has Andrew Hammond and Matt O'Connor breathing down his neck.
Hindsight being 20/20, (even ignoring the return, or lack thereof on Bishop) the Senators probably should have sent Lehner back to the minors two seasons ago and kept the Anderson-Bishop duo until they figured out exactly what they had in all 3 goalies. Lehner still has upside, but the questions are 1) what is he worth in a trade market right now, especially given his health and 2) How much bigger is his upside than that of O'Connor, who is also 23 but has yet to play a game of pro hockey.
If the Senators think O'Connor can be as good or better than Lehner going forward, then Lehner could be the odd man out as they will likely live with the duo of Anderson and Hammond for now and let O'Connor develop in Binghamton as the heir apparent to the starting job.
GRADE: This is a guy who has 5 pro seasons under his belt and his claim to fame is still the Calder Cup won in his first pro season. I am not sure we saw a lot of development this season, making 2 straight years of +3.00 GAA and sub .915 SP, both well below average even for a young goalie, and simply not good enough. D .
Up tomorrow is another one of the blueliners "on the bubble".
If you missed them, check out prior Report Cards: