Robin Lehner on the offensive for Jack Eichel’s surgery choice; “Where is the NHLPA?”
Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner is an outspoken advocate for mental health. He’s also been very outspoken about a player’s right to have a say in taking care of their own bodies.
Back in August, Lehner appeared on the Cam and Strick Podcast and had this to say on Jack Eichel’s situation.
“Eichel said it himself, he doesn’t make his decisions about his body – it’s not him,” Lehner said. Host Andy Strickland reiterated the importance of being able to trust the medical people around you, but Lehner wasn’t having it. “[Eichel] wanted to have another surgery, he thought he was allowed to do what he wants with his body.”
[brid video=”874773″ player=”23765″ title=”Top%20Trade%20Candidates%20for%20the%20202122%20NHL%20Season” duration=”67″ description=”Jack Eichel tops the list of top NHL Trade Candidates for the 2021-22 season.” uploaddate=”2021-10-01″ thumbnailurl=”//cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/18116/thumb/874773_t_1633116599.png” contentUrl=”//cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/18116/sd/874773.mp4″]
Robin Lehner on Jack Eichel surgery
Lehner was on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast this past week and voiced his feelings on the situation. “I hate it.” he said. “I know [teams] put investments into us, but your body is your body. If Eichel wants to have his surgery, how hard is it for them to have him sign a waiver and if it goes wrong they don’t pay him?”
He didn’t stop there. On social media yesterday, Lehner went on the offensive responding criticism towards Eichel but also the silence from the NHLPA and players for not being more outspoken on the matter.

“Where is the NHLPA and all NHL players in all this attacks on our freedom of choice? Jack situation is crazy to me,” he tweeted. “Also people getting attacked by journalist that hide behind freedom of speech to trash peoples freedom of choice. When does the hypocrisy end?”
“NHLPA it’s disappointing… all I got to say. Same with nhl players not sticking up for each other. Remember next time is you,” Lehner finished with one last tweet that read, “Silence.”
Sabres finally release Eichel’s medicals to teams
There may finally be a break in the right direction between Jack Eichel and the Sabres. According to TSN Insider, Darren Dreger there may finally be some progress in Buffalo.
“The NHL and NHLPA have been involved with all parties for quite some time,” Dreger said on the latest Insider Trading. “An interesting twist is that teams with trade interest Jack Eichel are being given the medical information as it’s being collected. So the process is moving along.”
You wonder if after seeing the medicals, which teams will be inclined to go with Eichel’s preferred disc replacement procedure? Either way, maybe this gets things moving to a conclusion. To be clear, Dreger did say that the “stalemate” continues.