Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner is not one to mince words or hold back his truth. In recent years, the former Blackhawk, has come forward with his own struggles in his life and has become an outspoken advocate for mental health awareness and an advocate for better treatment of NHL players and others when it comes to how the league handles their health, safety, and well-being during and after their playing careers.
Yesterday, Lehner went full force on Twitter against the Buffalo Sabres’ handling of Jack Eichel’s injury, the league’s handling of the situation, the Player’s association, and how his own injuries were dealt with over the years. Here’s a quick rundown from his timeline:
Better to have pain for the rest of their lives… At least they will supply the pain meds.. same old shit. https://t.co/rl906Fw2UZ
— Robin Lehner (@RobinLehner) October 2, 2021
https://twitter.com/RobinLehner/status/1444339170030329860?s=20
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 in to 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
— Robin Lehner (@RobinLehner) October 2, 2021
https://twitter.com/RobinLehner/status/1444474877117796355?s=20
#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 ….
— Robin Lehner (@RobinLehner) October 3, 2021
The final statement from Lehner was surely enough to get the attention of the league, accusing his former teams and current Flyers head coach Alain Vigneault of less-than-upstanding practices.
For context from TSN’s Rick Westhead:
The NHL refused to open its own investigation into allegations of sex abuse and a cover up leveled by a former Blackhawks player.
What will the league do about Robin Lehner alleging "many teams" gave Benzodiazepines to players without prescriptions?
How will the NHLPA respond?— Rick Westhead (@rwesthead) October 3, 2021
Lehner is essentially holding the league and the NHLPA hostage. That happened from a current NHL starting goalie for one of the top Stanley Cup contenders this season. As you can imagine, he 1000% got the league’s attention.
There is word this morning the NHL is going to reach out to Robin Lehner…ask if he would like to be directly interviewed by the league.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) October 3, 2021
As @FriedgeHNIC reported a short time ago we can confirm NHL officials will reach out to Robin Lehner in the hopes of discussing his comments/concerns over medical treatment etc. in more depth. No further details on forum or timing for such a conversation as of yet.
— Scott Burnside (@OvertimeScottB) October 3, 2021
Lehner wasn’t alone last night either. Another former Blackhawk, Dan Carcillo, took to social media to continue his message on behalf of himself and his former Blackhawks teammate and friend Steve Montador.
2) His name was Steve Montador
He was my best friend
He was cleared for 19 concussions in the NHL
He was cleared for 4 concussions in a span of 12 weeks while we played together on the @NHLBlackhawks
His 16th, 17th, 18th & 19th brain injury in just 571 NHL games…
— Daniel Carcillo (@CarBombBoom13) October 2, 2021
4) Luckily, during the lockdown, Steve and I experienced recovery and some relief from our repetitive concussions by going to see a special man
So he decided to go again, against the advice of the team and management
I remember sitting there with him the night before he left…
— Daniel Carcillo (@CarBombBoom13) October 2, 2021
6) Once he came back after 2 weeks of treatment, he was better
He was able to pass an unapproved, non peer reviewed exertion test that the @NHLBlackhawks implement for all players to pass before returning to play
Once he did that, the team asked him to sign his fit to play……
— Daniel Carcillo (@CarBombBoom13) October 2, 2021
8) He was completely black balled for seeking out treatment outside of the teams medical staff
Treatment that got him better
Treatment that got Crosby better
There’s more to this story that I can’t share bc of litigation
— Daniel Carcillo (@CarBombBoom13) October 2, 2021
As the 2021-22 season gets underway, the league and The Blackhawks are under fire and under the microscope. While some might brush aside Lehner and Carcillo’s comments or impacts around the league, calling them “unwell” “crazy” or “out for money” these are guys who have the first-hand knowledge of what is happening. For a league that has denied the connection between a high-speed, high-contact sport and its impact on concussions, it would be unsurprising if Lehner’s experiences and stories were not true. That what he’s gone through in his career from injuries to personal well-being is not an isolated experience in the NHL.
We shall see what happens next for Lehner and the league, but last night was a player using his platform to try to better the experience in the NHL for himself, as well as current, former, and future players in the league.