New York Islanders Robin Lehner Wins Swedish MVP Award

The awards keep coming in for New York Islanders goalie Robin Lehner. He’s won the Jennings and Masterton trophy, and he’s now won Sweden’s MVP award.

Robin Lehner was a worthy winner for the NHL’s Jennings Trophy. Along with Thomas Greiss, the two goalies backstopped the New York Islanders to the best defensive record in the NHL.

Robin Lehner was also a worthy winner for the NHL’s Masterton Trophy. After going public with his battle with mental illness and addiction, Lehner became one of the best goalies in the league with a 0.930SV%, 2.13GAA, and six shutouts.

And now Sweden has also deemed him a worthy winner for their MVP award, the Guldnpucken (The Golden Puck).

A Role Model in Every Way

The justification on why Robin Lehner was selected for the award is about as glowing of an endorsement as one could receive:

What Robin Lehner did on the ice for the New York Islanders season 2018-19 was absolutely outstanding. Islanders went on a season from being the team that scored the most goals in the NHL to become the team that had the least goals in the league. An historic turnaround that was largely Robin Lehner’s merit. […] Even more impressive than the game on the ice is how Robin Lehner has overcome his own problems with addiction and mental illness. By being so open with what he has gone through, he has also helped others in similar situations.Robin Lehner is a great goalkeeper and a great man. He is a role model in every way

Well said Sweden.

That’s now the third piece of hardware for Robin Lehner this season. Although I doubt that matters to him. What truly matters to him is to have his life back on track and being in control again.

Just like the Guldnpucken selection committee said: “he is a role model in every way”. Robin Lehner’s very public and brave account of his mental illness and addiction issues likely helped a number of people in similar situations.

And his words at the NHL awards after winning the Masterton Trophy are helping end the stigma around mental illness. His message was concise and direct and strikes a chord with anyone who hears it.

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Congratulations Robin Lehner on yet another award for what was truly a special season. Hopefully, his link to the Islanders continues beyond just this season.