Vegas coach Peter DeBoer says he regrets one thing in how he dealt with Robin Lehner

Before the playoffs officially got underway in the NHL Monday night, one of the biggest stories towards the end of the season was an apparent rift between Vegas Golden Knights head coach Peter DeBoer and starting goaltender Robin Lehner. Following a 3-2 loss to New Jersey with a few games to go and Vegas still in the playoff race, DeBoer pointed the finger at Lehner saying he needed to be better and felt he let in soft goals. The very next game, DeBoer started Lehner, but pulled him after the first period even though Lehner had let in just one goal on 13 shots. Following the game, DeBoer was asked why he started Lehner in the first place.

"We pay him to start games like this," said DeBoer. "It's the most important time of the year. He's healthy, he's fresh. He's got a lot of energy and we need him at this point in the year."

Just a couple of days later, the team announced Lehner would not finish the season as he had been playing through an injury for some time and needed shoulder surgery. Vegas would go on to miss the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. During an end of the year interview Tuesday, DeBoer said he regrets how he worded his statement regarding Lehner.

"When I used the word healthy, that was the wrong word to use and that was on me," said DeBoer.

He added that "healthy" to him means you can play, and that he never would have started Lehner if he thought his health was compromised.

Asked if he felt Lehner could be the number one guy in net for the Knights going forward, DeBoer said yes.

"I have no doubt in Robin Lehner's ability. I've seen it," he said.

Many are now wondering whether DeBoer will be the person who gets to make that decision. While there was no indication during today's news conference that DeBoer might be fired, there's a lot of time yet before the 2022-23 season starts.

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