Robin Lehner facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Robin Lehner
Lehner with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2021
Born	(1991-07-24) 24 July 1991 (age 34) Gothenburg, Sweden
Height	6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight	250 lb (113 kg; 17 st 12 lb)
Position	Goaltender
Caught	Left
NHL team Former teams	Vegas Golden Knights Ottawa Senators Buffalo Sabres New York Islanders Chicago Blackhawks
NHL Draft	46th overall, 2009 Ottawa Senators
Playing career	2009–2022

Robin Lehner (born 24 July 1991) is a Swedish former professional ice hockey goaltender. He was known for his strong play in the net. Nicknamed "Panda", he played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for several teams. These included the Ottawa Senators, Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, and Chicago Blackhawks. His last team was the Vegas Golden Knights. The Senators picked Lehner in the second round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

Lehner is also known for being a champion for talking openly about mental well-being. He has shared his own experiences to help others. He won the William M. Jennings Trophy twice for being part of the team that allowed the fewest goals. He also received the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for his dedication and perseverance in hockey.

Early Life and Hockey Start

Robin Lehner was born in Gothenburg, Sweden, on 24 July 1991. His parents are Michael and Veronica Lehner. He first played association football but switched to ice hockey at age 10. His father, Michael, coached him as a goaltender. Michael also trained Henrik Lundqvist, who became a famous NHL player. Robin often practiced drills meant for Lundqvist. This intense training helped Robin become a skilled goalie.

Junior Hockey Career

Starting in Sweden

Lehner began his junior hockey journey with Frölunda HC in Sweden. He played in the J20 SuperElit league. In the 2008–09 season, he played 22 games. He had a good goals against average (GAA) of 3.05. He also had a save percentage of .903. He faced some physical challenges that made him think about quitting hockey. However, a trip to New York to see Henrik Lundqvist play inspired him to continue.

Moving to North America

In 2009, the NHL Central Scouting Bureau ranked Lehner as the top European goaltender. The Ottawa Senators drafted him 46th overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. He then joined the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). In his one season with the Greyhounds (2009–10), he had a great record of 27 wins, 13 losses, and 3 overtime losses. He also set an OHL record with five shutouts.

Professional Hockey Journey

Ottawa Senators (2010–2015)

Lehner with the Binghamton Senators in 2011

After his OHL season, Lehner signed with the Senators. He started playing for their minor league team, the Binghamton Senators, in the American Hockey League (AHL). He made his professional debut on 9 April 2010.

Lehner made his NHL debut on 16 October 2010. He was only 19 years old. This made him the youngest goalie in Senators history. He was also the youngest Swedish goalie to play in an NHL game. He later helped the Binghamton Senators win the 2011 Calder Cup. He was named the AHL postseason MVP for his amazing performance. He had a 14–4 record and a .939 save percentage in the playoffs.

Lehner spent most of the 2011–12 season in Binghamton. He had a few times when he was called up to the NHL. He earned his first NHL shutout on 23 February 2012. He stopped all 32 shots against the Boston Bruins. He became a full-time backup goalie for the Senators in the 2013–14 season. He showed strong play when he got the chance to start.

In 2014, Lehner signed a three-year contract extension with the Senators. However, his 2014–15 season ended early due to a concussion. He played 25 games that season.

Buffalo Sabres (2015–2018)

On 26 June 2015, the Buffalo Sabres traded for Lehner. He was expected to be their starting goalie. In his first game with the Sabres, he got injured. He sprained his right ankle and missed several weeks. He returned in January 2016 and recorded his first shutout with Buffalo. He stopped 38 shots in a 4–0 win. He had surgery for his ankle in March 2016. He finished his first season with Buffalo playing 21 games.

During the 2016–17 season, Lehner worked to improve his game. He played a career-high 59 games. He had a 2.68 GAA and a .920 save percentage. Despite his strong play, the Sabres struggled as a team. He signed another one-year contract with Buffalo in 2017.

Lehner faced personal health challenges during the 2017–18 season. He left a game in March 2018 due to a panic attack. He later sought help for his well-being. The Sabres decided not to offer him a new contract in June 2018.

New York Islanders (2018–2019)

Lehner with the Islanders in 2019

On 4 July 2018, Lehner signed a one-year contract with the New York Islanders. He had an amazing season with the Islanders. In his first game, he recorded a shutout, stopping all 35 shots. This was a first for an Islanders goalie in their debut. He finished the season with 25 wins, a 2.13 GAA, and a .930 save percentage. He also had six shutouts.

Lehner and his teammate Thomas Greiss won the William M. Jennings Trophy. This award goes to the goalies on the team that allows the fewest goals in the regular season. The Islanders greatly improved their defense that year. Lehner was also a finalist for the Vezina Trophy, given to the best goalie in the NHL. He won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for his perseverance and dedication.

In the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs, Lehner played a key role. He helped the Islanders sweep the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round. However, the Islanders were swept by the Carolina Hurricanes in the next round.

Chicago Blackhawks (2019–2020)

Lehner signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks on 1 July 2019. He shared the goaltending duties with Corey Crawford. Lehner played well in regulation games. He had a .918 save percentage and a 3.01 GAA in 33 games with the Blackhawks.

Vegas Golden Knights (2020–2022)

Lehner with the Golden Knights in 2022

On 24 February 2020, Lehner was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights. He joined Marc-André Fleury in net. He played well in his first three games for Vegas before the season was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs resumed, Lehner became the main starting goalie. He recorded three shutouts against the Vancouver Canucks. Vegas reached the Western Conference finals but lost to the Dallas Stars.

Lehner signed a five-year contract extension with the Golden Knights in October 2020. He and Fleury continued to share goaltending duties. They won the William M. Jennings Trophy together again in the 2020–21 season. Lehner finished that season with 13 wins, a 2.29 GAA, and a .913 save percentage.

For the 2021–22 season, Lehner became the Golden Knights' main starting goalie. He faced several injuries during the season. He finished the season with 23 wins, a 2.83 GAA, and a .907 save percentage in 44 games.

Lehner missed the entire 2022–23 and 2023–24 NHL seasons due to hip surgery and other injuries. His contract with the Golden Knights ended in 2024.

International Play

Lehner has represented Sweden in international tournaments. He played in the 2009 IIHF World U18 Championships. He helped the team to a fifth-place finish. He also played for the Swedish junior team at the 2011 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

Due to health issues, Lehner had to miss some international tournaments. He was invited to join the Swedish team for the 2022 Winter Olympics. However, he decided not to go after talking with his psychiatrist. He felt that the strict COVID-19 rules might affect his mental well-being.

Goaltending Style

Robin Lehner is known for his unique goaltending style. He doesn't move around a lot in front of the net. He says this is because of his large size, which helps him cover more of the net. He also learned to limit movement due to past injuries.

Lehner uses a technique he calls "calculated cheating." He watches videos of opposing players to find clues about where they will shoot. He then moves into position just before they shoot. He also plays closer to the back of the net. He believes this helps him use his body more effectively to block shots. Lehner prefers to improvise during games rather than using the same moves for every save.

Personal Life and Advocacy

Robin Lehner has been open about his personal health journey. He has been diagnosed with bipolar I disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He sought help for these challenges in 2018. Since then, he has been a strong advocate for open discussions about mental health and well-being in ice hockey. He believes it's important for athletes to talk about their struggles and get support.

Lehner is married to Donya, and they have two children: a son named Lennox (born 2014) and a daughter named Zoe (born 2017). He is a fan of the Swedish melodic death metal band In Flames. He also likes the hip-hop artist Vinnie Paz. His nickname "Panda" came from his resemblance to the character in the Kung Fu Panda movies.

Career Statistics

Information on career statistics derives from Elite Prospects.

Regular season and playoffs

International

Awards and Honours