Senators feel Lehner has year left on deal
Binghamton Senators goaltender Robin Lehner caused a stir by telling a European reporter he needs a new contract for next season, and won’t be signing another two-way deal with Ottawa.
However, Assistant general manager Tim Murray told reporters it’s his understanding Lehner’s two-way deal extends into next season, because he only played in eight NHL games in 2010-2011 (he was also a backup for several games, which, in Lehner’s view, puts him past the 10 threshold to burn up a year of the entry contract).
Lehner’s concerns will be academic if he plays well and earns a spot in Ottawa this season or next. He has played brilliantly in the AHL this year, and will join Senators starter Craig Anderson and Ben Bishop, also of Binghamton, in Ottawa’s mini-camp next week.
Nice to see the mature and uncontroversial Lehner that we’ve been reading about during the lockout.