Goalie Robin Lehner is just two months removed from winning the AHL Calder Cup championship in his first year as a professional.
Does it make sense for him to be playing in this rookie tournament against players who are, in large part, getting their first taste of professional hockey?
Wouldn’t it make more sense for him to stay in Ottawa and prepare for the main training camp?
It’s an interesting question, but Kurt Kleinendorst, who coached Lehner in Binghamton last year and will coach him there again this year, thinks it’s a good thing for Lehner to be here.
“It doesn’t hurt for these young players, and he’s still a young player, to play,” said Kleinendorst.
“I can’t think that (Saturday’s game against the Penguins) hurt him in any way.
“It was not my decision that he’s here. I didn’t get a vote. But if you’re asking me is it the right thing, then absolutely, I do.
“He’s going to come out of here with at least two games under his belt, and these aren’t scrimmages. I just think it’s healthy, it’s positive.”
Matej Machovsky, in camp on an amateur tryout, started for the rookie Senators against the Blackhawks on Saturday.
That means Lehner will play the final round-robin game against the Maple Leafs on Tuesday night.

Tags: Robin Lehner