Robin Lehner explains what happened during negotiations with Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello

It's easy to forget now seeing as how goaltender Robin Lehner has fit in so seamlessly with the Vegas Golden Knights, but the hulking goaltender was once viewed as the saviour of the New York Islanders.

Lehner, of course, was a Vezina Trophy nominee after an incredible breakout campaign with the Islanders in 2018-19, but walked away from the team as a free agent that offseason. He had a short stint with the Chicago Blackhawks who shipped him to Vegas and the rest is history, as they say. Meanwhile, the Islanders moved on quickly from Lehner, inking veteran Semyon Varlamov to a four year, $20 million deal the same day Lehner signed with the Blackhawks. It was a move that caught most Islanders fans by surprise, but no one was more surprised than Lehner himself.

Lehner describes to Islanders reporter Rob Taub just what exactly went down in negotiations between him and Isles GM Lou Lamoriello that offseason.

Check it out:

"The intention was to get things done at our end of the year meeting. We talked and I was going to be a priority to get something done quickly. That didn't happen."

"We had Anders Lee and a few other players that were signing deals that year. We kept taking time and went the NHL Awards, and they said everything was going to be fine. We just kept waiting for an offer and then they wanted us to give them a number"

Obviously things have worked out for both Lehner and the Isles, but... to me Lamoriello absolutely bungled this situation. Lamoriello has a reputation for being an absolute honey badger in contract negotiations, but in Lehner he had a player who was loved by the fanbase and who wanted to remain with the organization. In the end Varlamov was signed to the exact same cap hit as Lehner, but with four additional years on his contract. Flash forward three seasons and Lehner and Varlamov are still making the same salary. Again, Varlamov has been solid and the Isles look no worse for wear, but I get the feeling that Lamoriello's "old school" negotiation ploys are going to catch up with him sooner rather than later and the Islanders will be regret playing hardball on every negotiation.