G Robin Lehner (Chicago Blackhawks)
Did you really think that a Hurricanes trade rumor article wouldn’t include a goaltender!?
Whether or not the team needs to add a goaltender at this point is up for debate. Both Petr Mrazek and James Reimer have had moments of brilliance marred by inconsistency. And regardless of Reimer’s recent run of form, I’m not sure anyone could say their confident in the current goaltending situation.
I personally do think that the duo of Mrazek and Reimer is adequate enough if need be. The Canes’ in-zone coverage on defense has been horrific recently, and it’s hard to imagine many goalies having better results than either of those two, given their recent situations.
If there *is* a guy that makes sense, it’s Chicago goaltender Robin Lehner. A reigning Vezina Trophy finalist, Lehner was linked to Carolina via free agency in the off-season but ultimately ended up in Chicago. This season, he’s 15-8-5 with a 2.83 GAA and a .923 save percentage, and has been a far superior option to Corey Crawford in the Blackhawks crease.
Carolina has been linked to Lehner for months, though the rumors have died out recently with Chicago unexpectedly climbing their way back into the playoff mix. However, they’ve lost 3 straight games and currently sit 4 points back of a playoff spot. If they can’t gain any ground in the next week or two, they could look to move Lehner if they don’t plan to re-sign him.
An impending UFA, Lehner is obviously in line for a huge contract on the open market this summer, given his success in recent years. Though his numbers are rather similar to James Reimer’s, Lehner would be a sizeable upgrade in goal. I mean, just look at this:
https://twitter.com/nhl/status/1225239456938123264?s=21
Let’s not forget that despite Carolina getting the better of the Islanders in the playoffs last season (SWEEEEEP!), Lehner was a brick wall for them, posting a .936 save percentage in his 8 playoff starts. In comparison, Mrazek had a .894 in his 11 games.
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The whole Lehner situation is a tough one overall, as arguments could be made for or against the move. The Reimer/Mrazek has been solid with all things considered, but could Lehner upgrade it – and by how much? You also have to factor in that Chicago would likely want a real haul for him, and other teams would likely be in the mix.
This is likely a position that Canes brass will monitor closely over the next 10-14 days. If Reimer and Mrazek continue to hold up, they may choose to stand pat. But with the regime’s previous linkage to Lehner, it should not be a shock at all if the Canes jump in the mix should Chicago make Lehner available. Definitely keep a close eye on this one.
To summarize, for now, these are the 4 guys that have been linked to Carolina most recently – but that doesn’t mean they won’t circle back to other guys they’ve previously been linked to such as Dylan DeMelo (OTT) and Alec Martinez (LAK).
Regardless, whether the team makes a move or not, it’s intriguing that Carolina is viewed as a buyer for the first time in over a decade, and it’ll definitely make for a very interesting 2 weeks leading up to the trade deadline.
Question for CC Readers: Should the Canes make a move before the deadline?