Islanders goalie Robin Lehner is one of the three finalists for the Masterton Trophy, awarded to the “player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey.”
Come the ceremony in June, Lehner almost assuredly will be the winner.
Having come back from substance abuse and mental-health issues, Lehner has turned around not only his career, but also his life.
Islanders president Lou Lamoriello took a bit of a flier in signing the 27-year-old Swede to a one-year, $1.5 million deal this summer, and Lehner has delivered.
Lehner, a 6-foot-4, 240-pounder, went 25-13-5 with a 2.13 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage, the best regular-season number in Islanders history. He started all four games in the team’s first-round playoff sweep of the Penguins, giving up just six goals on 136 shots for a 1.47 GAA and .956 save percentage.
“You’re most proud of what he’s done as a person,” Lamoriello said. “How he’s handled whatever his past was and whatever [did] go wrong, and he’s addressed that. He had to address that.”
Lehner split time with Thomas Greiss in the regular season. The two got their names on the Jennings Trophy when the Islanders finished first in the league in goals against, just one year after the club was last in the league.
Most important, Lehner has his life back on track and his career has followed, soon to be acknowledged with a prestigious award.
“It’s a huge honor,” Lehner said. “It wouldn’t be possible without all the pieces around me, starting with my family and friends. Going throughout this whole team, the relationship me and Greisser had all year, pushing each other, supporting each other.… Everyone from Lou down, the whole organization has been great.”
Winger Cal Clutterbuck missed practice after he left Game 4 with an undisclosed injury, but Lamoriello said it was just a maintenance day and he should be ready to play when the second round starts. Defenseman Scott Mayfield also was held off for maintenance, but there are no concerns about either’s availability.
“While we have this time, we’re going to give them a couple more days off,” Lamoriello said. “But they’re fine. They’ll be back whenever our trainer feels it is the right thing.”
The Islanders, after days off Wednesday and Thursday, had a relatively hard practice Friday. That likely will continue until a start date for the next round is clear. Coach Barry Trotz even said there might be some scrimmaging.
“We’re trying to keep the rhythm,” Trotz said. “We’ll be prepared, don’t worry.”