Robin Lehner ‘encouraged’ by his talks with NHL, NHLPA

Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner, three days aft tweeting astir issues with subordinate wellness and aesculapian treatment, said Tuesday helium has had productive calls with the NHL and NHL Players Association astir imaginable changes.

Lehner said helium tried different avenues earlier taking to Twitter connected Saturday, but wasn’t seeing results. He said he’s excited aft the archetypal talks and present plans to propulsion for advancement down closed doors.

“All I’m asking is to beryllium a portion of that change, that treatment to hole immoderate of the things for america arsenic players,” Lehner said. “I don’t privation to spot immoderate subordinate endure successful soundlessness anymore.”

Lehner’s comments connected his verified relationship were successful defence of Buffalo halfway Jack Eichel, who helium played with from 2015-18. Eichel has requested a commercialized and is warring with the Sabres implicit the due benignant of country for a herniated disk successful his neck.

Lehner, to enactment his erstwhile captain, said Saturday that Buffalo mishandled an ankle wounded of his successful 2015 and posted a representation of his swollen ankle connected Twitter arsenic proof. He said Tuesday helium believes the standoff betwixt Eichel and the Sabres is not successful Eichel’s aesculapian champion interest.

They screwed my ankle… large time. Then country and past pills… nary care…almost died. But ehh.. aft forcing limb property aft fewer weeks aft atrocious precocious ankle sprain archetypal game. That is ft aft treatment😂.. aboriginal is my psyche gone aft a period aft country . It’s not each beauteous pic.twitter.com/CT8fXrp67a

— Robin Lehner (@RobinLehner) October 2, 2021

“I cognize (Eichel and his household are) not lying and I can’t basal by and beryllium and spot a chap subordinate and a person (go through) what’s happening erstwhile I’ve been done benignant of akin things,” said Lehner, who has been an outspoken advocator for intelligence health. “We each interest astir his cervix oregon whatnot, but astir his intelligence health, that’s portion of my full journey, right? How galore radical are talking astir his wellness mentally?”

Lehner besides accused teams of giving retired benzodiazepines — drugs similar Valium and Xanax that are typically prescribed to relieve anxiousness and musculus spasms and trim seizures — and Ambien to employees erstwhile traveling. He said the Knights were not 1 of the teams helium was referencing and reiterated that Tuesday.

“I haven’t seen thing here,” Lehner said. “They spell implicit the apical here. They’re precise diligent and cautious astir things. Kind of however I privation it to beryllium everywhere.”

Lehner further called Philadelphia Flyers manager Alain Vigneault a “dinosaur” connected Twitter who treated players similar robots alternatively than humans. Vigneault, who has ne'er coached Lehner, said Monday helium is “tough” and “demanding” but cares astir his players.

#PhiladelphiaFlyers ? Dinosaur manager treating radical robots not human. Fire these dinosaurs. Fire #vigneault archetypal story. I got proof.. effort to shingle your mode retired of this 1 ….

— Robin Lehner (@RobinLehner) October 3, 2021

Lehner, erstwhile asked Tuesday if Vigneault was discussed successful his calls with the NHL and NHLPA, said the talks were private. His telephone with the NHL was not disciplinary, truthful helium is not being punished for speaking out.

“I don’t privation to wounded anything,” Lehner said. “I conscionable privation to beryllium a portion of the conversation, stock my stories of what’s close and incorrect and the antithetic things I’ve been done successful my vocation and the things that I’ve seen.”

Lehner has received backing from wrong the Knights, with skipper Mark Stone and defenseman Alex Pietrangelo saying Monday that they supported him. Lehner said Tuesday that enactment “means everything” to him and that helium doesn’t privation to beryllium a distraction for the squad arsenic it chases a Stanley Cup.

He present plans to support his ideas and recommendations for the NHL retired of the nationalist oculus successful the hopes that it leads to things getting implemented.

“It’s turned into a bully spot of a joyousness close now, astatine slightest having idiosyncratic listening,” Lehner said. “Maybe marque it a small spot amended for the younger generation. Maybe different sports adjacent perceive to this arsenic well. If it tin assistance 1 percent, I’m blessed astir that.”

Contact Ben Gotz astatine bgotz@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BenSGotz connected Twitter.