On Saturday, goaltender Robin Lehner was on a mission. Through a series of tweets meant to target the league, the pressures of playing injured and a specific coach, it was clear he was not about to be silenced and was out to prove a point, whether it got him in hot water with the NHL or not.
It started with a conversation about Jack Eichel and what’s happening to him in Buffalo, then moved to accusations that Alain Vigneault was known for giving his players drugs without prescriptions then expecting them to just go out and play.
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Here is the thread of tweets all tied together: (the order may not be exactly correct)
They screwed my ankle… big time. Then surgery and then pills… no care…almost died. But ehh.. after forcing leg press after few weeks after a bad high ankle sprain first game. That is foot after treatment… later is my soul gone after a month after surgery. It’s not all pretty. I’m 100% an NHL fan. Love hockey and want the NHL to be great. I’m not trying to destroy anything, but do what’s right. It’s time to walk away from the old ways and into the new. Things have to change. I talk way to much and I still have 90 % filter on. Don’t make me take it away.
Lehner went on to accuse some teams of giving out Ambiens to players and not getting it checked out by medical professionals. He said, “Is it common for workplaces to give out benzodiazepines to employees when they travel and Ambien?” He added, “Should that not be done by doctors or psychiatrists? Asking for a friend, this doesn’t happen in Vegas to be clear. But I know many other teams. I also been in on teams that do?”
Targeting coach Alain Vigneault, he said, “#PhiladelphiaFlyers? Dinosaur coach treating people robots not human. Fire these dinosaurs. Fire #vigneault first story. I got proof.. try to shake your way out of this one ….” He was asked for further clarification and responded, “It will come to light soon enough.”
He went on to add:
And they say Ambien is sleeping pill it’s funny that rehab told me that’s why didn’t have rem sleep. 8 years no rem sleep. Great. But yeah just sleeping pills. When asked about whether he was taking one right now by a fan, he responded, “No I did 8 years of team supplied ambien. Almost killed me…”
I’ve made a crazy amount of mistakes. But lying about what I’ve seen for 12 years not one of them. I don’t care what they say I don’t lie about these things 100 percent true. I’ll keep going. Have stored stories for a year. Watch now when NHL will try cancel me. God luck whatever lie you.
He finished with, “Enough for today..for every day that goes by and this shit keeps going I’ll be releasing a story and proof from myself, ex-players, and current players on what is going on. Truth tweets start tomorrow unless things don’t get fixed. Have fun.” He then tagged both the NHL and the NHLPA.
The NHL Responds to Lehner’s Accusations
According to Elliotte Friedman, reports are that the NHL has reached out to Lehner and asked if he would like to have an interview to talk about these allegations on the record.
The reactions to Lehner’s tweets are incredible. Many fans are commending him for being so open to talking about a subject that is bound to make waves, and all while being an active player. This isn’t something the league will simply sweep under the rug. There will be an investigation and Lehner will be key to it.
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