NHL netminder Robin Lehner of the Vegas Golden Knights had plenty to say on Twitter this weekend, stirring the pot with damning accusations against both the NHL and Flyers head coach Alain Vigneault, insinuating Philadelphia’s medical staff was guilty of treating players with dangerous painkillers and other unprescribed drugs including Ambien and benzodiazepines.
Lehner was tweeting in defense of his former Sabres teammate Jack Eichel, who has been at odds with team doctors over how to treat a spine/neck injury suffered in March. Eichel, who led Buffalo with 36 goals in 2020, was placed on long-term injured reserve and stripped of his captaincy after failing his physical at Sabres training camp last month. Somehow, the conversation made its way to Vigneault, with Lehner calling him a “dinosaur” and suggesting the Flyers fire him.
Unsure why Lehner, who has never played for Vigneault, would single him out specifically, the veteran coach addressed the controversy ahead of Monday night’s preseason game against Boston. “I was obviously very disappointed,” Vigneault expressed, categorically denying Lehner’s explosive malpractice claims. “As far as me pushing pills, I don't need another income. I have no idea where that comes from.”
Lehner later clarified to ESPN’s Emily Kaplan that he wasn’t accusing Vigneault of handing out illegal pills but was merely alluding to his reputation for treating players poorly. “I don’t know the young man. [He said] that I was a dinosaur,” Vigneualt relayed to Greg Wyshynski, also of ESPN. “I am tough. I am demanding. But I care about my players. I want their best. Through the years, some guys have liked me and some guys a little bit less. But I've done it with the best intentions, with respect.”
James van Riemsdyk, who serves as Philadelphia’s NHLPA rep, said he hasn’t observed any instances of players abusing unprescribed drugs from teams, at least in his experience. “I’m sure there are guys struggling with issues,” the 32-year-old admitted. “But this generation of players is more willing to ask questions. Whether it's teams or the league or the PA, over the years, they're trying to inform guys on the seriousness of certain substances.”
Vigneault, who succeeded Dave Hakstol as Flyers head coach in 2019, has already experienced plenty of peaks and valleys in his two years with Philly, capturing the Eastern Conference’s top seed in 2020 before missing the playoffs entirely this past season.
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