Robin Lehner's fate officially confirmed by Gary Bettman and the NHL

Over the past few weeks, Robin Lehner has been in the NHL spotlight for a number of reasons, with his bankruptcy becoming an even bigger story away from the ice. However, it was his absence at a medical exam during training camp that drew the ire of fans, and while he explained that it was an expected absence, it made fans curious about his situation.

Lehner is set to miss his third straight NHL season, but with him still being employed by the Vegas Golden Knights, it raised questions about his salary. Now, Elliotte Friedman has confirmed the NHL's ruling on the situation, revealing that while Lehner will be paid his full salary, it won't count against the Golden Knights salary cap for the upcoming campaign.

According to Friedman, it was described as a 'unique situation' by the Golden Knights camp and Lehner's side, and with this being the final year of a five-year, $25 million deal that was signed back before the 2020/21 season, it's unclear what his future will hold. At 33-years of age, there's still plenty of gas left in the tank for Lehner, but with this being the third straight season he's missed, it's unclear if he'll ever get back on the ice in the NHL.

As for the Golden Knights, this is a huge victory, as the team now have $5 million of spare salary cap space, and while this will no doubt ignite jokes about the treatment that they get, it's going to help them in a big way. This is a very unique time for Lehner, and moving forward he may return or may officially announce his retirement, but for now, this works out for both parties as they look to end their relationship in the very near future.