NHL Pacific

Philadelphia Flyers head coach Alain Vigneault said Monday allegations by Vegas Golden Knights goalie Robin Lehner that the team pushed for players to receive nonprescription medication are "completely false."

Lehner, who used his Twitter feed over the weekend to focus on NHL player safety amid concerns about the Buffalo Sabres' treatment of Jack Eichel, called out Vigneault on Saturday:

https://twitter.com/RobinLehner/status/1444478979931459584

Here's the Flyers coach's full response:

AV responds to Lehner’s accusations. #Flyers pic.twitter.com/8NIF7356lR

— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) October 4, 2021

Part 2: AV responds to Lehner charges. #Flyers #NHL pic.twitter.com/Y734cvELUo

— Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull) October 4, 2021

Lehner clarified he wasn't accusing Vigneault of distributing pills to players but was discussing the coach's methods in terms of how he treats players, which he believes are "unacceptable," per Emily Kaplan of ESPN.

Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher released a statement Sunday in response to the allegations.

"The health and well-being of our players is our top priority, and any care provided to them comes from the team's health care professionals, not the coaching staff," Fletcher said. "We have no reason to believe any of our players have received improper care."

Meanwhile, Lehner highlighted what he believes was improper care from the Sabres' training staff while he dealt with an ankle injury during the 2015-16 season:

https://twitter.com/RobinLehner/status/1444348543330828290

His concerns come as Buffalo and Eichel remain in an extended standoff about the type of treatment the star center should receive to overcome a neck injury suffered last season.

The Sabres prefer a traditional disk fusion, while Eichel's camp wants him to receive artificial disk replacement surgery they believe will provide more long-term health benefits. The team is hesitant because that procedure has never been performed on an NHL player.

Buffalo's efforts to trade the three-time All-Star have been unsuccessful amid the medical uncertainty, and Eichel was stripped of the captaincy ahead of the 2021-22 season as he remains without a timetable to return.

Lehner called on the NHL Players' Association to do more on Eichel's behalf:

https://twitter.com/RobinLehner/status/1444038822426152960

The Sabres open the new season Oct. 14 when they host the Montreal Canadiens, while the Flyers begin play Oct. 15 at home against the Vancouver Canucks.

Edmonton Oilers winger Josh Archibald is out indefinitely after being diagnosed with myocarditis.

Head coach Dave Tippett told reporters Archibald had tested positive for COVID-19 over the summer.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a study that found an increased rate of myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, in patients who had COVID-19.

The condition can be serious, even for a professional athlete in the prime of his career. Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez missed the entire 2020 MLB season after being diagnosed with the ailment.

Rodriguez told the New York Times' James Wagner he initially couldn't hold down any food and lost 20 pounds in 10 days. Doctors also advised him to avoid any physical activity for three months so as to keep his heart rate down.

Oilers goaltender Alex Stalock told The Athletic's Michael Russo he was diagnosed with myocarditis last fall. General manager Ken Holland said the team is expected to be without Stalock for the entirety of the upcoming campaign.

Archibald signed with the Oilers ahead of the 2019-20 season. In two years with the team, he has 19 goals and 15 assists in 114 appearances.

Holland said in September the 28-year-old was the only member of the active roster who wasn't vaccinated against COVID-19. 

The Oilers are five games into their preseason and host the Calgary Flames on Monday. They drop the puck on the regular season Oct. 13 against the Vancouver Canucks.

Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner has accused an NHL team of giving out benzodiazepines and Ambien to players.

In a series of posts on Twitter, Lehner explained that he knows "many other teams" and has played for some teams that have given out the prescription drugs.

https://twitter.com/RobinLehner/status/1444478978937417729

Lehner did say that Vegas is not among the teams he's played for that give out benzodiazepines and Ambien. He did call out the Philadelphia Flyers and head coach Alain Vigneault in a follow-up post:

https://twitter.com/RobinLehner/status/1444478979931459584

Lehner also tweeted he will "be releasing a story and proof from my self, ex players and current players on what is going on" each day starting Sunday if "things don’t get fixed."

No one with the Golden Knights, Flyers, NHL or NHL Players Association has yet responded to Lehner's claims.

A second-round draft pick by the Ottawa Senators in 2009, Lehner is entering his 12th season in the NHL. He began his professional career in the American Hockey League with the Binghamton Senators.

Lehner has played with five different teams in the NHL. The 30-year-old spent the first five years of his career with the Senators. He has also suited up for the Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders and Chicago Blackhawks.

Vegas acquired Lehner from the Toronto Maple Leafs in February 2020. He started 19 games during the 2020-21 season for the Golden Knights.

Quinn Hughes and the Vancouver Canucks have reportedly agreed to a six-year contract that will pay the defenseman "slightly above $7.75 million" per season, according to Satiar Shah of Sportsnet. 

That follows a report from Thomas Drance of The Athletic that Hughes and the Canucks were making progress in contract negotiations:

Sources indicate to @TheAthletic that the #Canucks and CAA made progress this morning in Elias Pettersson, Quinn Hughes talks.

Don’t call it a breakthrough (yet), but there’s optimism that Vancouver and their two cornerstone players are inching toward a resolution at last.

— Thomas Drance (@ThomasDrance) September 30, 2021

Hughes, 21, appeared in 56 games for the Canucks in the 2020-21 season, posting three goals and 38 assists while averaging 22 minutes and 48 minutes of average ice time. He was minus-24 for the year. 

His eight goals and 45 assists in the 2019-20 season made it clear Hughes was going to be a franchise cornerstone for Vancouver going forward, even if he appeared to take a slight step backwards this past year. 

Nonetheless, the long-term plan in Vancouver should be to build around Hughes and 22-year-old center Elias Pettersson, also negotiating his second contract with the team. Pettersson, the 2018-19 Calder Trophy winner, has posted 65 goals and 88 assists in 165 career games, nearly a point per contest. 

Further to our reporting on Insider Trading. Things continue to heat up in Vancouver in negotiations on Pettersson and Hughes.

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) September 30, 2021

Sides continue to hammer away on deals for Pettersson and Hughes. Hearing new contracts for Canucks could come as soon as tonight.

— Iain MacIntyre (@imacSportsnet) October 1, 2021

Getting these deals done would be a nice positive for a Canucks team in a state of flux. It's unclear if Travis Hamonic will play this season. Brock Boeser, Tyler Motte and Brandon Sutter are injured. Add in Hughes and Pettersson being away from the team, and the Canucks have entered the preseason with a depleted roster. 

"I'm pretty off the grid social-media wise, so you guys will probably know before me," Canucks winger J.T. Miller said of Hughes and Pettersson's negotiations. "We're getting closer and closer (to the season) and I'm sure that the anticipation and pressure for them is... through the roof. I'm staying out it; they don't need my help. I think they all know that we want them here and need them. But this is a big part of their future, a big part of their lives, and big decisions are being made."

The NHL's strict game-day dress code has long been a sticking point among players. Now it seems the Arizona Coyotes plan to separate themselves from the pack.

According to ESPN, in a survey of all 32 teams, the Coyotes were the only team to reveal they intend to fully relax their dress code for the 2021-22 season.

According to the NHL's collective bargaining agreement, "Players are required to wear jackets, ties and dress pants to all Club games and while traveling to and from such games unless otherwise specified by the Head Coach or General Manager."

Players were allowed to dress however they wanted for games during the 2020 playoff bubbles in Toronto and Edmonton. Despite the players enjoying the freedom to wear whatever they wanted, the league chose to return to enforcing the CBA policy in 2020-21.

The Coyotes began to loosen restrictions on their dress code last season. Chief brand officer Alex Meruelo Jr. approached former team captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson with the idea to relax the dress code for home games, and Ekman-Larsson was more than open to it.

"To be the first team to go no dress code was awesome," Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun told ESPN. "The guys loved it. I think it's great to be able to show a bit of your personality and your closet other than just your suits. I had fun with it. I enjoyed it. I'm glad it's something we'll continue to do."

The NBA and NFL allow their players to show off their personalities with their outfits before games. Some players are hoping the NHL will ease its rules so they can follow the lead of the Coyotes. 

"I wish there was no dress code for games and stuff," Toronto Maple Leafs star Matthews told ESPN. "I don't mind wearing a suit, but it gets old, I guess. It gets old pretty quick. I think it'd be fun to wear different things and be able to express yourself, similar to what the NBA does or even the NFL a little bit."

The 2021-22 NHL season is set to begin on October 12.     

The NHL announced Wednesday that it found no evidence that San Jose Sharks left winger Evander Kane gambled on league games or negatively impacted his own team's games.

Reporter Elliotte Friedman shared the release:

https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1440808331900162052

The release did point out, "Additional unrelated allegations, however, involving potential wrongdoing by Mr. Kane have been brought to our attention. These allegations are being thoroughly investigated."

The Sharks released a statement saying they will continue to cooperate with the NHL and revealing that Kane will not join the team at training camp for the time being:

Statement from the #SJSharks. pic.twitter.com/ZiKEo8LgmH

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) September 23, 2021

Zac Al-Khateeb of Sporting News noted Kane's estranged wife, Anna Kane, accused her husband of being a "compulsive gambling addict" who bet on his own games with bookies.

In July, the NHL announced it was investigating the allegations, which it took "very seriously."

The Sharks also released a statement: "The Sharks have been in contact today with the (NHL) about the serious allegations made against Evander Kane.  We support a full and transparent investigation into the situation to maintain the integrity of the game and consistency with our team values."

Kane denied the allegations in August:

pic.twitter.com/CgkRgD8vT2

— Evander Kane (@evanderkane) August 1, 2021

He also joined ESPN's Linda Cohn and further denied the accusations even though he acknowledged he had a gambling addiction that contributed to his need to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in January.

"Obviously [the accusations are] incredibly false," he told Cohn. "It's unfortunate that transpired, and it's unfortunate that those false allegations were made. I understood the magnitude of them immediately. I know [they're] not true. I know none of what she was saying was true. I was very confident, comfortable with knowing that I was going to be exonerated and am going to be exonerated of those allegations."

The Cosmopolitan hotel and casino in Las Vegas sued Kane in April 2019 and said he didn't pay the $500,000 the casino extended him via gambling markers. The ESPN story noted the Cosmopolitan eventually dropped the case.

Kevin Kurz of The Athletic reported that "several of Evander Kane's teammates don't want the Sharks winger to return to the team next season."

On Wednesday, A.J. Perez of Front Office Sports obtained court documents revealing Kane was facing allegations of sexual assault and domestic violence from Anna.

TMZ Sports reported Anna filed for divorce in July.

San Jose Sharks winger Evander Kane is facing allegations of sexual assault and domestic violence by his estranged wife, Anna Kane. 

A.J. Perez of Front Office Sports obtained court documents that detailed Anna Kane's accusations as part of a domestic violence restraining order application filed on Tuesday. 

Perez noted the NHL declined to comment when asked about the accusations. 

Per TMZ Sports, Anna Kane filed for divorce on July 16. She also accused Evander Kane of gambling on NHL games, including intentionally throwing games he was playing in order to win money. 

In response to the betting accusation, Kane wrote on Twitter that he has "NEVER" bet or gambled on hockey, Sharks games and has never thrown a game he was playing in. 

Perez reported earlier this month that the NHL's investigation into the gambling accusations against Kane had stalled.

"An examination of betting trends for Sharks games last season didn’t show any abnormalities," Perez wrote. 

Anna Kane's domestic violence restraining order filing comes after Evander Kane obtained his own restraining order against her last month. 

TMZ Sports reported Evander Kane was granted a domestic violence temporary restraining order after he said Anna Kane hit him multiple times and threw things at him in the past. 

According to TMZ, Evander Kane has been seeking a permanent restraining order against Anna, with a hearing scheduled for some time in September. 

Kane is entering his fourth full season with the Sharks. He has also played for the Atlanta Thrashers, Winnipeg Jets and Buffalo Sabres in his NHL career.    

San Jose Sharks winger Evander Kane described allegations from his estranged wife, Anna Kane, that he bet on NHL games, including those he played in, as "incredibly false."

Kane told ESPN's Linda Cohn on Thursday he expects the NHL's investigation will clear him of any wrongdoing.

"It's unfortunate that transpired, and it's unfortunate that those false allegations were made," he said. "I understood the magnitude of them immediately. I know [they're] not true. I know none of what she was saying was true. I was very confident, comfortable with knowing that I was going to be exonerated and am going to be exonerated of those allegations."

https://twitter.com/OTLonESPN/status/1438562996956110853

Anna Kane made a series of posts on her Instagram story on July 31 that alleged her husband actively tried to lose games because he bet against his own team, per Zac Al-Khateeb of Sporting News.

"How does the NHL let a compulsive gambling addict still play when he's obviously throwing games with bookies to win money?" she wrote. "Hmm, maybe someone needs to address this."

She also alleged Kane had abandoned her, their one-year-old daughter and unborn son while going on a vacation in Europe, per Al-Khateeb.

The NHL immediately announced an investigation into the gambling allegations:

We intend to conduct a full investigation and will have no further comment at this time. (2/2)

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) July 31, 2021

Kane also posted a pair of statements on Twitter addressing the allegations he bet on the NHL and had abandoned his family:

pic.twitter.com/CgkRgD8vT2

— Evander Kane (@evanderkane) August 1, 2021

In March, Daniel Kaplan and Kevin Kurz of The Athletic reported Kane and the Sharks informed a federal bankruptcy court that terminating his seven-year, $49 million contract that runs through the 2024-25 season was an option as part of his bankruptcy proceedings, an idea that met sharp resistance from his creditors.

The 30-year-old Canadian's court filings showed debts of $26.8 million and assets of $10.2 million, according to The Athletic.

Kane told Cohn he sought treatment for his gambling addiction, which helped him understand "gambling can't continue to live with me":

When you have a problem, sometimes you can't control your decision-making at that time. I think that was an example of my problem getting the better of me. I had a gambling problem. And when you have a gambling problem, just like a drinking problem or a drug problem, sometimes you can't control your actions.

I think part of the worst thing that ever happened to me was winning big, because you think you can do it again. When you're an athlete, the competitive juices are flowing. And then when you lose, it even bothers you even more. You just keep digging a deeper hole. At the end of the day, it's something that I went through and I'm looking forward to moving [on].

Kane also addressed questions about his off-ice reputation after he was investigated twice by police in 2016 following allegations of assault while playing for the Buffalo Sabres. No charges were brought after the first allegation and he reached a plea agreement in the second case, which led to charges of trespassing, disorderly conduct and harassment being dropped after he completed the terms of the agreement, per ESPN.

The veteran forward told Cohn none of the allegations levied against him were true:

I'm in a white sport [and] I'm a Black player. I have a big personality that maybe sometimes rubs people the wrong way—but it's not meant to. I think unfortunately a lot of the issues I've had and the allegations that have been made about me are just completely not true. I'm not looking for people [to] feel sorry for me. That's the last thing I need. I'm not looking for people to feel bad for me. I'm just asking to be treated fairly and judged accordingly.

Kane was voted the Sharks' Player of the Year following the 2020-21 season after leading the team in goals (22), assists (27) and points (49).

Along with San Jose and Buffalo, he's also played for the Atlanta Thrashers and Winnipeg Jets across a 12-year NHL career.

In new court documents, San Jose Sharks winger Evander Kane says his estranged wife, Anna, was abusive to him on several occasions.

TMZ Sports reported Kane was granted a temporary restraining order against Anna after detailing at least four times when she became physically violent, beginning in 2019. The final incident took place in July, with Kane alleging his wife "dangerously swung around their baby daughter" during an argument.

Kane also alleges Anna punched him in the face during three other incidents detailed in the restraining order request. He is seeking a permanent restraining order.

The couple married in 2018, but Anna filed for divorce in July, alleging Evander bet on NHL games, cheated during their relationship and has been an absentee father to the couple's daughter. Kane has denied all allegations levied against him.

"I love my daughter. I will and always have taken care of my daughter in every way possible," Kane wrote in a tweet. "I have always made sure her mother has had everything she's needed and more. I have tried to de-escalate our divorce issues and be as civil and calm as anyone in this position could. I have tried to set up FaceTime calls and visits with her. I have had some FaceTime calls but not every day as I would like because of being restricted by her mom. She has refused me to see her and has unfortunately tried to use my daughter as leverage."

Anna is currently pregnant with the couple's second child.

The Arizona Coyotes must find a new home within a year.

Per Katie Strang of The Athletic, the City of Glendale has opted out of its year-to-year lease agreement with the team as of June 30, 2022, making the 2021-22 NHL season the final one for the Coyotes at Gila River Arena.

Strang provided more context regarding the current situation between the team and city:

The current lease agreement operates on a year-to-year basis and can be terminated by either party via written notice on or before Dec. 31. The Coyotes also use administrative space within the arena, which the team must also vacate.

The termination notice follows several months of stalled negotiations between the city and the team on the terms of a lease extension and potential renovations to the arena, as well as multiple notices about outstanding and delinquent balances owed by the Coyotes as part of their lease agreement, public records reveal.

The team issued a statement in response to the news, noting its "one hundred percent committed" to Arizona:

We are disappointed by today's unilateral decision by the City of Glendale to break off negotiations on a multi-year lease extension agreement. We are hopeful that they will reconsider a move that would primarily damage the small businesses and hard-working citizens of Glendale. We remain open to restarting good-faith negotiations with the City.

Most importantly, the Coyotes are one hundred percent committed to finding a long-term arena solution here in Arizona, and nothing will shake our determination to do what is right for our organization, residents of the entire Valley and, most important, our fans.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman does not outwardly appear concerned about the Coyotes' future in the greater Phoenix area, however, per his comments on Carton & Roberts on WFAN Sports Radio (h/t Rob Taub of IslesBlog).

"I don't think the franchise is going anywhere," Bettman said. "I think the city is just negotiating. I'm not worried. I think their future stays in the Greater Phoenix area."

The first iteration of the Winnipeg Jets played in the WHA from 1972-79 and then the NHL from 1979-1996 before moving to Phoenix and becoming the Coyotes. They moved to their current Glendale home in 2003.

The Coyotes must now find a new arena, however, as its two-decade stop in its current home now nears an end.

Glendale City Manager Kevin Phelps spoke on the record with Strang and said: "We've reached that point of no return" and that “there’s no wavering" on the matter.

Per Strang, Phelps "is responsible for the arena management contract between the team and ASM Global, the arena management company." He also said that City Council members showed a "strong consensus" towards that course of action.

In addition, the Coyotes reportedly owe the arena $1,462,792, with over $300,000 of that payment “over four months delinquent."