RFA Robin Lehner Re-signs with Senators

After hinting earlier in the month that both sides were close to an agreement on a contract, the Senators announced this morning that 23-year-old RFA goalie has re-signed with the Senators.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>BREAKING: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sens?src=hash">#Sens</a> agree to terms with goaltender Robin Lehner on a three-year contract.</p>&mdash; Ottawa Senators (@Senators) <a href="https://twitter.com/Senators/statuses/494837252120649728">July 31, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Full release on <a href="https://twitter.com/RobinLehner">@RobinLehner</a>&#39;s new contract, in English: <a href="http://t.co/6yif1J7xEO">http://t.co/6yif1J7xEO</a> and in French: <a href="http://t.co/jKI4WbI2vx">http://t.co/jKI4WbI2vx</a> Congrats Robin!</p>&mdash; Ottawa Senators (@Senators) <a href="https://twitter.com/Senators/statuses/494838675034103808">July 31, 2014</a></blockquote>
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While a deal with longer term was discussed, the bridge contract allows the player to build on his early career success. From the official press release:

In 61 regular-season NHL games, Lehner has earned a record of 21-24-10, along with a 2.82 goals-against average and .918 save percentage. A member of the B-Sens team that captured the Calder Cup following the 2010-11 season, he registered a 43-40-5 record over 95 career AHL contests, a 2.73 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage, all of which occurred with Binghamton. He was awarded the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as the league’s most valuable player in the post-season after helping Binghamton win the 2010-11 Calder Cup.

The dollars are as follows:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The new contract for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sens?src=hash">#Sens</a> Lehner has an AAV of $2.225M ($1.5M, $2.025M, $3.15M) <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheLehner?src=hash">#TheLehner</a></p>&mdash; Ottawa Senators (@Senators) <a href="https://twitter.com/Senators/statuses/494838095645515776">July 31, 2014</a></blockquote>
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The AAV is slightly lower than I expected and follows the general Sens RFA pattern of the last few years (lower dollars in the initial year of a contract). However, the deal looks to be a good one for the team, and might provide excellent value as early as this season. Still, it's a positive sign that the Senators are willing to commit to Lehner while not foolishly committing to a seven or eight year deal. With Lehner set to make $3.15M at the end of this three-year deal, it seems unlikely pending UFA goalie Craig Anderson will receive another long-term deal form the Sens.

Do you like the Lehner contract?