Former goalie Lehner says Blackhawks didn't give him fair shot
In Robin Lehner's first interview as a member of the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday, the former Blackhawks goalie expressed frustrations with how he was utilized at times in Chicago.
He said he signed with the Hawks last off-season "to help them out" and because he was told he'd get "a fair chance to play."
Lehner, who did start 31 of the 62 games, told the press in Vegas that wasn't the case.
"I didn't play much in the beginning - or the middle beginning - of the season, even if I played really well and had a good camp," said Lehner, who started just two of the first six games as the Hawks started 2-3-1. "Eventually I took over and I think I won like nine out of 10 ... and we were (eventually) one point behind a playoff spot.
"Then all of a sudden I found myself on the bench for no reason. That was tough. Plus, (contract) negotiations had totally died out."
The 9-1-0 stretch Lehner is referring to came between December 15 and January 19. Corey Crawford started seven games during that time, going 3-4-0.
Lehner, who was traded to Vegas on Monday, then allowed 4 goals in a 4-3 loss to Florida on January 21 on the Hawks' last game before their off week.
The Hawks dropped five of six after the break, with Lehner getting just two starts. He lost them both - a 2-1 setback against Boston and a 5-3 loss at Edmonton. Lehner then allowed 4 goals to Calgary during an 8-4 victory and 6 goals to the Rangers in a 6-3 loss.
Lehner went 16-10-5 with a .918 save percentage and 3.01 goals-against average with the Hawks. The season before he was 25-13-5 with a .930 save percentage and 2.13 GAA average in 43 starts for the Islanders.
"At the end of the day we're players playing for our lives and playing for contracts," Lehner said. "I felt for two years I've played really well and I still can't get something done (long term), and I'm playing well and I can't play. It hits your motivation part a little bit, and I've got to do a better job of letting that kind of go away.
"I'm in a new situation here and I'm just excited to be part of a playoff push and help out any way I can."