Vegas Golden Knights looking to terminate veteran goaltender Robin Lehner after no-show to medical exam

According to a report published by Daily Faceoff on Wednesday, despite still being under contract, Lehner did not inform the Knights that he would not be able to play this season.

Due to a hip injury, Robin Lehner has missed the previous two seasons of action. Based on all accounts, he will miss the 2024-25 season for the third time in a row. According to a recent report by Insider Frank Seravalli, the 33-year-old is still required to show up to training camp for a required medical exam despite the injury.

This development has prompted the Golden Knights to consult with the NHL, who are now working with the NHLPA to determine the next steps. While Lehner has been on long-term injured reserve (LTIR), opening cap space for the team, getting him off the books entirely would be a significant advantage for Vegas.

Lehner was scheduled to start the last year of a five-year, $25 million contract, with a salary obligation of $4.5 million for 2024-2025. If the Knights choose this course of action, they would avoid having to place Lehner on long-term injured reserve and would be totally free of the $5 million cap hit associated with him. The $4.5 million that was owed to him for this season would also be forfeited.

We will have to wait and see if the NHLPA sets a new precedent for this kind of incident or if they will support the 33-year-old who is obviously breaking protocol. It's unclear if Lehner will ever be able to take the ice again for the Golden Knights or any other team, but this most recent development is definitely not a good one.