At the young age of 20, the prospect goalie for the Ottawa Senators has a big career ahead of him after some exceptional play. He has a great presence in goal at 6-foot-4 and incredible flexibility and athleticism. Skaters have been having a lot of trouble scoring on him due to his patience and solid footwork. He is able to stay with a shooter right up until the shot, making it extremely hard to score against.
However, one of Lehner's best attributes is his attitude and mental toughness towards the game. He plays a very confident style of game and makes a lot of saves in stunning fashion.
As a replacement for Craig Anderson he had an instant positive impact for Ottawa. He won his fist two games, one of which was a 32-save game in Boston on Feb. 28, that resulted in his first ever NHL shutout. He only allowed four goals from 101 shots as he went 2-1-0 in his first three games.
His only problems are inconsistency and lack of mental control. Stopping pucks night after night seems to be a challenge for the young star and staying calm and focused in critical times has proved to be his downfall.
The Ottawa Senators will probably keep him in the minors for one more year before calling him up. Whatever happens in the end, there is no doubt that Lehner has showcased his abilities to scouts and has made the most of Craig Anderson's misfortune.
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