Insider spills latest on Robin Lehner and it doesn't sound good

The latest news on Vegas Golden Knights' goaltender Robin Lehner shows the clear rift between him and the team right now. That rift may have more to do with head coach Peter DeBoer than anyone else.

During Saturday night's Hockey Night in Canada, insider Elliotte Friedman gave the latest that he's hearing about the netminder, and it seems Lehner is indeed done for the season despite DeBoer denying those reports.

"There was two reports that Robin Lehner is out for the year and having surgery," said Friedman. "I've heard the same rumours. Vegas has disputed that. [Saturday] they said they were hopeful he'd be in the lineup [Sunday] night."

"Nobody's talking but this is the best I can piece together: what's happened is Lehner, who is playing hurt, was upset at some of the criticism and also being pulled the other night. And I believe he informed the Golden Knights on Thursday night that he was going to have surgery and shut it down. I think in the last 24-48 hours, everybody involved was trying to see if there was a solution to all this that would have him in the lineup. I guess we're going to find out [Sunday] night."

Update: Lehner to be at Sunday's game but won't start

Lehner was heavily criticized after a 3-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils by DeBoer, who called all three goals soft. Lehner started the next game, stopped 12 of 13 shots in the first period, and was then pulled. Logan Thompson finished out the game, getting a 4-3 overtime win over Washington. It seems odd that DeBoer would be so critical of his goaltender knowing that he was playing hurt. Lehner has never had an issue speaking out before when he felt he was wronged, but has been quiet on this issue so far.

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