Flyers Head Coach Alain Vigneault Gives Response To Robin Lehner’s Comments

In a story that’s certainly caught the attention of plenty of people, Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner sent out a series of cryptic tweets on Saturday night. One of those tweets in the thread involved the Philadelphia Flyers and head coach Alain Vigneault.

Wow. It was certainly an eye-opening tweet that raised plenty of eyebrows and even more questions. At first glance, people read it as if Lehner was accusing Vigneault of pushing pills on his own players, which is a very serious accusation. It was even more puzzling to some when you consider Lehner has never played under any of Vigneault’s clubs in his professional career.

Former Flyer Nolan Patrick played under Vigneault for two seasons before he was traded this past offseason, and some fans believed that he was giving Lehner bad information, but that was not the case at all.

It’s also especially confusing when players such as Kevin Hayes, Derick Brassard, and Keith Yandle previously played under Vigneault in New York and said that him being in Philadelphia was a factor in them signing here. Former Flyer Daniel Carcillo also praised Vigneault as of the best people that’s he’s been coached by professionally.

However, Lehner cleared up his comments on Monday and said that’s not what he was talking about when it pertained to Vigneault at all.

This wouldn’t be the first time that Lehner has been vocal against Vigneault and his alleged treatment of players. Some might recall his comments last season about the coach’s handling of Flyers netminder Carter Hart while he was facing his on-ice struggles last season.

Chuck Fletcher made a statement yesterday on the situation as well.

Vigneault gave his response today in a press conference this morning after the team’s morning skate before their preseason matchup against the Bruins. To be fair to Lehner, Vigneault’s response did come before the comment about him was clarified.

"”I don’t know the young man. Two things he said about me were I was a dinosaur. I consider myself experienced. Dinosaur? You can say that with experience you become a dinosaur, maybe? I do know that I’ve been coaching a few years. 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.” “As far as the other thing, me pushing pills, I don’t need another income. I have no idea where that comes from. I don’t know what else to say, I have no idea.”"

The NHL and NHLPA are keeping tabs on the situation, but they have not spoken to any of the Flyers players nor Vigneault yet. The NHL also spoke to Lehner this morning about his comments.

Vigneault also recognized that some people will believe him while some won’t, albeit in an interesting manner.

"“Do you believe that COVID is real? A lot of people don’t. Do you believe that vaccines are good? Some people believe that if you get the vaccine, you become a magnet or some other people believe that it changes your DNA. Do you believe President Biden won the election? A lot of people don’t. So, there was something that was thrown out there that is completely false, maybe not the dinosaur part. I would rather say I’m experienced. But the other part, this organization treats its players professionally.”"

James van Riemsdyk, the Flyers’ NHLPA representative, was also puzzled by Lehner’s comments.

"“It’s always surprising when you hear someone maybe from a different organization who has never necessarily played for someone saying stuff like that. In the instances that I’ve been here, all the medical sort of decisions go through the medical staff and the training staff and stuff like that. That’s been my experience from being here.“"

While the situation is still one to monitor, hopefully there will be a resolution as the league will likely continue to have conversations with Lehner down the road.