Robin Lehner’s former teammates have seen the posts on X.
The precise particulars of what the previous Islanders netminder goes by means of usually are not fully clear, however the string of posts 10 days in the past made it apparent that it’s critical.
“Never had silence and my brain is now fully broken that there is no return,” wrote Lehner, who has been open about battling bipolar dysfunction previously. “The chaos never stop [sic] and the fantasy and delusions that I prayed was a nightmare was unfortunately the reality.”
The teammates with whom Lehner gained the Masterton Trophy in 2018-19 simply need him to be OK.
“We had such a great time with Robin when he was here on the Island,” Anders Lee instructed The Put up. “Especially here for us and for him. Hope nothing but the best for him and his family. You can kinda decipher that they’re going through a tough time. Just want to be thoughtful about them. You just want to hear that he’s doing all right.”
Lehner performed only one season with the Islanders, however was immediately a fan favourite attributable to his openness about his previous private struggles.
He returned the favor in variety, placing up a .930 save share and later getting a tattoo of Lengthy Island on his neck — crediting normal supervisor Lou Lamoriello and the group with pulling him out of a low level.
Although Lehner remains to be being paid by the Golden Knights this season, he has not performed since present process hip surgical procedure previous to the 2022-23 season, and did not report back to a medical examination final summer time that was required to stay on long-term injured reserve.
Vegas remains to be paying his wage this season, however the NHL and NHLPA agreed that it might not rely in opposition to the wage cap.
In his thread on X, Lehner alleged that the hierarchy in Vegas had mistreated him, whereas closely implying that Lamoriello had reached out to attempt to assist his present points, which embrace a drawn-out chapter case.
“There has been one hand that reached out to really help me and try to get me out of this. From the one organization that gave my family some hope and a new start,” Lehner wrote. “Everyone knows who this man is and he is similar one which didn’t decide me and met me in any case different groups simply took me in saying dangerous s–t and guts to guage me after Buffalo instructed everybody I used to be in rehab with out my consent. However me and this stunning man met for breakfast and talked about household.
“… Long Island gave me a year of happiness in the nightmare that is my life and I can’t express what I owe them and the fans there that helped get me strength in a life where there have never been any but from wife and kids.”
The sensation is mutual.
“He was great with our fans,” Mathew Barzal instructed The Put up. “Kinda rode with all the fan love and media love. It was great. He was a rock for us, but he was also just a fun personality to have in the locker room. Talking about everything, funny guy, laughing, making funny comments and whatnot. I really enjoyed playing with him.”
Forward of Monday’s sport in opposition to the Sabres — their first at house since Lehner spoke out — quite a lot of fan accounts on X steered chanting Lehner’s identify at UBS Enviornment in a present of help.
Identical to outdated instances.
“He was a great teammate,” Matt Martin instructed The Put up. “… He got here in, was targeted, he was devoted. Clearly performed nice for us in objective. Off the ice, guys cherished him. Clearly we knew about his historical past and what he was going by means of, he labored extraordinarily arduous that yr to maintain issues on observe, was extraordinarily targeted in internet.
“From spending time with him, understand how a lot he cherished the Island and enjoying right here and our fan base. Clearly our fan base was behind him and supported him. The group as effectively.
“It’s difficult to see a guy you played with and care about go through what he’s going through. And we hope he’s OK.”
