The Vegas Golden Knights acquired veteran goaltender Robin Lehner from the Chicago Blackhawks in the final hour before the NHL trade deadline on Monday, according to multiple reports.
As the deadline hit at 3 p.m. ET, Chicago’s return for Lehner was not immediately clear.
Lehner has been a bright spot in goal for the Blackhawks this season, going 16-10-5 with a 3.01 goals-against average and .918 save percentage. But when combined with teammate Corey Crawford‘s 11-16-3 record (2.82 GAA, .915 save percentage), Chicago is in last place in the Central Division and facing a third straight season without playoff hockey.
The 28-year-old Lehner had signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Blackhawks during the offseason following a career-resurrecting campaign with the New York Islanders in 2018-19, when he was a Vezina Trophy finalist and won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.
Lehner has spoken about battling mental health and substance abuse issues for much of his nine-year career, and that came to a head in his last season in Buffalo in 2017-18. He sought treatment and turned his life and career around.
Lehner will pair up with Vegas starter Marc-Andre Fleury as the Golden Knights gear up for a potential third straight postseason appearance. With 76 points, Vegas is in first place in the Pacific Division.