Former New York Islanders goaltender Robin Lehner put the NHL on blast for a ridiculous mistake on his William Masterton trophy.
“You had one job.” That’s all Robin Lehner needed to say about his William Masterton Memorial Trophy. In a major blunder by the NHL, Lehner’s trophy reads “New York Rangers” not “New York Islanders.”
It’s hard to make a bigger mistake than that. No Isles fan wants to see that dreaded “R-word” on Lehner’s well-deserved Masterton Trophy.
You had one job…? pic.twitter.com/fmzYQWKuFf
— Robin Lehner (@RobinLehner) August 10, 2019
The Masterton is awarded to a player who showcased dedication, perseverance, and sportsmanship in hockey. Lehner won the award after publicly dealing with mental health and alcohol problems. The goaltender penned a powerful feature for The Athletic where he detailed the struggles he faced in Buffalo.
Lehner’s resurgent year was a major reason for the Islanders’ success last season. Head coach Barry Trotz rode Lehner and his defense to a first-round sweep of the Pittsburgh Penguins before they were swept themselves by the Carolina Hurricanes.
Despite his 2.13 goals per game average, the Islanders let him walk in free agency. He signed a one-year deal with the Chicago Blackhawks worth $5 million. Instead, they opted to sign Semyon Varlamov to a four-year, $20 million contract.
Although Lehner won’t be involved anymore, the rivalry between the Rangers and Islanders should be lively for the next few years. Despite losing Lehner, the Isles should still be a playoff contender in the Metropolitan.
The Rangers, on the other hand, added Artemi Panarin and drafted Kaapo Kakko second overall. The rebuild in Madison Square Garden almost happened overnight. The last time the two sides met in the Stanley Cup Playoffs was 1994, but that could change soon.
