Robin Lehner‘s salary will no longer count against the salary cap for the Vegas Golden Knights after an agreement was reached between the NHL and its Players’ Association.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that Lehner will still be paid this season.
“The way it was described to me is that it’s almost as if his contract has been terminated except that he will still be paid,” Friedman said on The Fan Hockey Show Thursday. “This is a unique situation, and I know everybody worked pretty hard to find a way to make this work. From what I’ve heard about it, it’s the best possible solution.”
The agreement comes after Lehner did not report to Vegas for a physical at the start of training camp. The goaltender has not played in the NHL since April of 2022 due to hip surgery but has one year remaining on his contract. He is owed $4.4 million this season and was due to count as $5 million against the Golden Knights’ cap.
The Golden Knights had planned to cover Lehner’s $5 million against the cap by dipping into LTIR but now are expected to start the season under the cap, allowing them to accrue cap space throughout the season. PuckPedia projects Vegas will have $1.4 million in cap space.
Lehner has not publically said why he was unable to report for the start of camp.
“All I can say at this time is everyone knows why I couldn’t be there,” he said in a statement to Friedman on Sept. 21. “I am waiting calmly for things to be sorted out.”
“(Robin) will not be reporting to the club this year,” Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon said at the time. “He continues to be unfit to play. There are unique circumstances surrounding this situation that the NHL, the NHLPA and (Vegas) are working through. Collectively, we are assessing our next steps, and when we have more to say, we will.”