League will reportedly get involved in Robin Lehner's accusations against Flyers, coach Vigneault

Robin Lehner's accusations that NHL teams have handed out Ambien and benzodiazepines to players without a prescription have caught the attention of the NHL. According to Sportnet's Elliotte Friedman, the league plans to reach out the Lehner to ask if he wants to be interviewed about what he allegedly knows and the proof he claims to have.

Lehner made the accusations Saturday night, and while he said it was a common practice, he singled out the Philadelphia Flyers and called for coach Alain Vigneault to be fired. This seemed odd, as Lehner had never played for the team. However, sports journalist Drew Wheeler has indicated sources have told him that "Flyers training staff gave Nolan Patrick non-prescribed Ambien and Benzodiazepines to help with his traumatic head injury while not disclosing the medication given to him at the time." Patrick had dealt with terrible migraines for a couple of years before being traded to the Vegas Golden Knights, Lehner's team, over the summer. Wheeler insisted he did not get the information from Lehner.

If these medications were given to players without a prescription and without the advice and care of a doctor, it would not be a good look for the NHL. As pointed out by TSN's Rick Westhead, "Benzodiazepines [are] typically prescribed for anxiety, insomnia, seizures & panic disorders. They slow brain activity. People can become physically dependent on them in just days."

He added that the FDA in the United States ruled that a warning be added to these medications, which are prescribed under brand names such as Xanax, Valium, and Ativan. Westhead has written extensively about the issue of NHL players getting dependent on pain medications.

Related: ROBIN LEHNER CLARIFIES COMMENTS HE MADE AGAINST FLYERS COACH ALAIN VIGNEAULT

FLYERS HEAD COACH ALAIN VIGNEAULT DENIES LEHNER'S SERIOUS ACCUSATIONS

NHL COMMISSIONER GARY BETTMAN ADDRESSES BOTH THE ROBIN LEHNER AND JACK EICHEL SITUATIONS

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