In breaking Vegas Golden Knights news from hockey insider Frank Seravalli:
Details on Lehner contract settlement with @GoldenKnights, NHL and NHLPA.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) October 3, 2024
Significant news before season-opening rosters are submitted on Monday:https://t.co/Ty8sqDDWJ7
When Lehner failed to report for a mandatory medical exam at the start of training camp, he violated his contract's terms. He claimed he didn't report due to personal issues.
This will give the Golden Knights some much-needed cap space, which they can use to make roster moves at the trade deadline. Lehner will still receive the $4.5 million owed for the upcoming season. The team could have been justified in terminating his contract, but instead, it opted to gain cap relief.
The Vegas club currently has $1.46 million in cap space, and adding Lehner's $4.5M will bring them close to the $6M mark. That cap space will allow them to add a needed player at the trade deadline.
Lehner last played on April 20, 2022. He wasn't expected to suit up this season, as he had been inactive for the third consecutive year. He went under the knife for a hip injury in August of 2022, which was expected to end his NHL career.
He also has struggled with other ailments, such as bipolar disorder, ADHD, and PTSD. At the time, his undiagnosed mental health struggles led him to drug and alcohol abuse.
He recovered and was awarded a 5-year $25 million contract in October of 2020. He earned that pact with his performance in the 2019-20 season. He gathered a 19 -10-5 record with a stellar .920 save percentage and a 2.89 goals-against average.