Golden Knights goalkeeper Robin Lehner cracked the NHL on Wednesday, claiming that after forcing players to take the COVID-19 vaccine with promises of loose restrictions, the league is no longer running on them.
“We have been vaccinated and we are still stuck in jail,” Lehner told reporters.
In a 10-minute rant, the one-time islander pursued the NHL to “force” players to obtain the coronavirus vaccine and find it more appealing with assurances that they would not be subject to strict quinine protocols. He said the league is choosing a “competitive edge” over how players are treated and misled by the league.
Lehner, who has been vocal about her mental health in recent years, cited her bipolar diagnosis and said “one of the things they tell you not to do is isolation.”
The 29-year-old said, “At some point we should start focusing on the mental health of the people around us, not just the NHL, but everyone in society and we can start to return to normalcy.” Because the problem is going to be huge. But to lie to us about the things that compel us to take the vaccine. unacceptable. And now that we have vaccinated to say ‘Nah, we are not changing because of competitive advantage’. this is outrageous. “
The NHL and NHL Players Association followed strict guidelines for teams at the start of the 2020–21 season before later sending additional restrictions. In a memo sent in February, which was received by members of The Post, players (and trainers, training and equipment employees and other operations personnel) in their home market, “will remain at home and exclude practice or games Will not go. Or do the necessary activities. “
It was also “strongly advised” that all family members limit their discretionary activities outside the home.
Lehner tried to add more context after his comment, when he said “everything did not go out correctly” In a detailed Twitter thread.
“The main thing is that we need to start making mental health important as well,” Lehner wrote. “Right now it has a wide impact on everyone in the society. It is wrong to get a competitive edge before people die… but miss the mark. I am bad to say that it is like a prison and I apologize but the world that is developing with mental health issues develops problems mentally. “
Lehner’s remarks come just a day after the Canucks played their second game on March 24 due to a severe COVID-19 outbreak on the team. The Canucks had more than 25 positive cases, which were later discovered as a variant of the virus, and several experienced severe symptoms, along with family members becoming ill.
The Golden Knights are currently top seeded in the West Division and can officially secure a playoff spot with a win over the Sharks on Wednesday night.
