Monday Links, News and Notes: Robin Lehner Speaks Out + The Latest on Brady Tkachuk

Another edition of the Links, News, and Notes brings yet another update regarding the ongoing Brady Tkachuk saga. Along with that and your usual news, however, there were some perhaps more serious on-goings on Saturday night:

• Over the last few days, former Senators goaltender Robin Lehner has taken to Twitter to express his frustrations regarding the health policies of certain NHL teams. In particular, he suggested that teams had been giving Benzodiazepines as a painkiller to their players without prescription, a medication meant for anxiety and panic disorders that also is highly addictive. TSN’s Rick Westhead had the following comment:/

Context: Benzodiazepines typically prescribed for anxiety, insomnia, seizures & panic disorders.
They slow brain activity. People can become physically dependent on them in just days.
The FDA in 2020 demanded new warning label for the drug, which is involved 30%+ of opioid ODs. https://t.co/FZpSUwBJWw

— Rick Westhead (@rwesthead) October 3, 2021

• Former NHLer Daniel Carcillo also recently shared a story regarding one of his former teammates, the late Steve Montador, who passed away in 2015. Montador had suffered multiple concussions during his tenure with Chicago, and, after undergoing successful treatment independent from the club, was sent to the minors and was more or less made to be no longer part of the team during their Stanley Cup run in 2013. It’s all too similar to Jack Eichel’s situation in Buffalo, with his being denied access to his preferred surgery by the Sabres’ organization. There’s a lot to unpack when it comes to player safety and health in the NHL, but maybe a current player like Lehner speaking up will help spark some much-needed change.
• College hockey is back and a pair of Sens Prospects lit the lamp in exhibition games. 2021 tenth-overall pick Tyler Boucher had a powerplay marker for Boston University, while over at North Dakota, Jake Sanderson, the once-controversial fifth-overall pick of the 2020 NHL Draft, found the back of the net after an impressive end-to-end rush./

We're up 1-0 thanks to Tyler Boucher's power-play goal! pic.twitter.com/E8zZih5U0H

— BU Men's Hockey (@TerrierHockey) October 3, 2021

End-to-end power move from Jake Sanderson! 🚨#UNDproud | @UNDmhockey pic.twitter.com/HVtH5U6Cnf

— UND Insider (@UNDinsider) October 3, 2021

• If you’re subscribed to The Athletic, be sure to check out Ian Mendes’ latest column regarding which areas of the team the Senators can look to for statistical improvement.
• On Friday, we finally got some actual numbers from a trusted source regarding the team’s ongoing contract discussions with restricted free agent forward Brady Tkachuk. TSN’s Pierre Lebrun reported on the TSN broadcast of the Sens-Habs game that he believed Brady’s camp is seeking at least $8.4 million per year on an eight-year deal. Lebrun also expressed concern about Brady’s long-term future in Ottawa if the two sides can’t manage anything longer than a bridge deal. All reports indicate that a long-term deal remains the goal for both sides, the big question is how long are they willing to drag things out. Both sides are rightfully seeking the best possible deal, but the clock is ticking towards December 1st — after which Brady will be ineligible to play in the NHL until next season, with Ottawa retaining his rights.
• Tkachuk is now the only key RFA remaining league-wide after the Vancouver Canucks signed Elias Pettersson and Quinn Hughes to new deals. Pettersson will make $7.35M/year for three years while Hughes will make $7.85M/year for six years. If Brady gets the contract he’s asking for, Vancouver Canucks GM Jim Benning will look very good in comparison./