Vegas Golden Knights: An open letter to Robin Lehner

Due to a multitude of mistakes made in an article about Robin Lehner of the Vegas Golden Knights, we’d like to issue a public apology.

For most of you I am just some guy behind a keyboard, typing away my opinions on the NHL. Or the jerk who doesn’t understand mental illness, which is understandable considering the circumstances over the last 24 hours. I recently wrote an article on Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner’s contract situation and how he deserved a long-term contract.

In that article, I made a clear and regrettable mistake in the way I chose to describe Lehner’s battle with mental health and substance abuse. A mistake that I am deeply sorry to have made and for that I sincerely apologize to Robin Lehner. And to anyone else who faces these same battles on a daily basis and feels that they’re stigmatized. I know I didn’t help that by any means.

As an Islanders fan, Lehner’s willingness to be open about his struggles made me so proud. Having faced my own in the past, seeing him drove me to be better each and every day, knowing that Lehner had to overcome and battle on one of sports’ biggest stages regularly.

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He was not held back from doing what he loved and now he continues to be a voice for the voiceless. There were times watching those games where you could not help but smile when you saw him make a huge save or when he thanked the Islanders faithful for their support. The pure joy on his face resonated with me after each game he played in and I cannot thank him enough for what he showed to me, but also to what he proved to the world.

We all need to be better in understanding the challenges people dealing with mental health issues face, and that starts with me owning up to my actions. As someone who shares information for people to read on a regular basis, my word choice was a disservice and regrettable. I am truly sorry.

I stand by my belief that Robin Lehner deserves a long-term contract, which was the ultimate reason for me writing that story in the first place. There is a reason he was a Vezina Finalist, a Jennings Trophy winner and a Masterton Trophy winner. It is because he is that good. Not once did he throw in the towel when it got tough. He was a warrior through it all and now the NHL is seeing just how elite he truly is.

When he was not brought back by the Islanders, I was heartbroken. I was hurt, but most of all I was angry for Lehner because he truly deserved a deal with term and the Islanders seemed like a perfect fit.

I used the term “risk” in my last piece when talking about why teams could be hesitant to offer him a long-term contract. Unfortunately, the sad reality of society, especially in the sports world, outside factors play a role in the decision-making process. And some general managers may look at a player like Robin Lehner and be hesitant due to the stigma of mental health.

It is disheartening and not something I agree with at all. Stats do not lie. Stats are facts. Lehner has been as good as they come over the last few seasons.

Ultimately, the most disheartening thing about this experience for me is that I set out to write an article that praised Lehner and stated categorically that he should be awarded a long-term contract. Instead, my own mistake resulted in the story taking on an entirely different tone than I had intended.

I am still learning to be a writer. I have learned a tremendous amount from this experience and the power that words have. I hope that I can be forgiven and learn from this error so that I can become a more well-rounded writer.

EDITOR’S NOTE: I don’t talk about my mental health much because I’m not very comfortable talking about it. But Lehner is an inspiration to me as someone who suffers from ADHD, depression, and anxiety. He’s a lesson that you’re more than your mental illnesses. If you’d like to support a great charity that supports mental health at many different levels, consider donating to Same Here The Global Mental Health Movement.

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As the leader of this site, I’d like to offer a heartfelt apology to anyone who was hurt by the article we posted. I should have caught the mistakes, but I didn’t and I accept full responsibility for it. The article has been taken down and this has been a learning experience for everyone involved. I can personally guarantee you we’ll be better in the future – Dave Stevenson, Site Expert at Puck Prose.

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