Digable5
Buffalo Proton (Positively Charged)
I was furious with the trade from day 1. I have tried to not let it affect my judgement of his play, but I want to put all of my cards on the table since he is hopefully on his way out.
Lehner is a big guy and covers a lot of the net. In my opinion, that is the only reason his numbers are respectable and people might still consider him a viable option. I'm not saying that being big can't be the main attribute of a successful goalie, but his play was otherwise putrid. He constantly overplayed the puck and put himself out of position. He regularly lost sight of the puck behind the net. He was useless in a shootout if you just got him moving laterally. He didn't consistently challenge a shot at the right depth. Lehner was a hothead that could not have been good for the locker room.
I'm not going to say he was bad for the locker room or that the players he called out didn't deserve it, but someone of his ability should not be the one to point fingers. I guess that is why so many captains are one of the best players on the team. Otherwise, you would likely just point the fingers back at them.
His expected replacement, Ullmark, is huge, plays with good positioning and seems to have one of the better personalities in the organization. I think teammates like him and will want to play their best for him. I know that shouldn't be a thing at this level and with their paychecks, but I have experienced many bad work environments and think its only human to let it affect you.
Would love to get something for Lehner in a trade, but I'd be happy enough just to see him leave.
Lehner is a big guy and covers a lot of the net. In my opinion, that is the only reason his numbers are respectable and people might still consider him a viable option. I'm not saying that being big can't be the main attribute of a successful goalie, but his play was otherwise putrid. He constantly overplayed the puck and put himself out of position. He regularly lost sight of the puck behind the net. He was useless in a shootout if you just got him moving laterally. He didn't consistently challenge a shot at the right depth. Lehner was a hothead that could not have been good for the locker room.
I'm not going to say he was bad for the locker room or that the players he called out didn't deserve it, but someone of his ability should not be the one to point fingers. I guess that is why so many captains are one of the best players on the team. Otherwise, you would likely just point the fingers back at them.
His expected replacement, Ullmark, is huge, plays with good positioning and seems to have one of the better personalities in the organization. I think teammates like him and will want to play their best for him. I know that shouldn't be a thing at this level and with their paychecks, but I have experienced many bad work environments and think its only human to let it affect you.
Would love to get something for Lehner in a trade, but I'd be happy enough just to see him leave.