LEHNER LASHES OUT
Knights goalie goes on Twitter to accuse teams of handing out meds without prescriptions
The NHL said it hopes to talk to Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner about a series of accusations he made Saturday on Twitter about team medical practices.
Lehner implied that unspecified teams offered Ambien and benzodiazepines during road trips without prescriptions.
“This doesn’t happen in Vegas to be clear,” he tweeted. “But I know many other teams. I also been in on teams that do.”
Lehner, who won the Masterton Trophy for perseverance in 2018-19 after revealing that he had been treated for depression, anxiety and addictions and had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, began his series of tweets while linking to a Buffalo News article about Sabres star Jack Eichel.
The former teammate is in a dispute with the Sabres about what type of surgery he should have for a neck injury. Eichel’s representatives want him to have disk replacement surgery, which has never been done on an NHL player, while the team wants him to have fusion surgery. Eichel has been stripped of his captaincy.
“Better to have pain for the rest of their lives ... At least they will supply the pain meds.. same old [expletive],” Lehner tweeted.
Lehner has played for five NHL teams during his 11-year career. He’s the undisputed No. 1 goalie this season in Vegas after the Golden Knights traded Vezina Trophy winner Marc-Andre Fleury to the Blackhawks.
Lehner, who said he has “stored stories for a year,” wants players to have a greater say in their medical treatment.
“I’m 100% an NHL fan,” he tweeted. “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.”