[northern wave]

Eric Lindros is announcing his retirement today. Lots of debate going on.
Looking back over his career, I remember watching him and being amazed. I don't think the hockey world had seen (or has since) a player that could
do the things he did. He could do everything. In my mind, he's an absolute certainty for the Hall of Fame. It was scary how dominant he was. The goals, that shot, the passes, the hits, the fights. Those who got to see him play were fortunate...a freight train on skates who could score with the best of them. Here's to the Big E...thanks for the memories!

[downie_24]

Very good player, no doubt. But I don't think he deserves to be in the hall of fame

[sean.bonner]

1995 - He won the Hart Trophy and the Pearson Award, leading the league with 70 points in an abbreviated season.
1996 - 115 points; 47 goals.
1997 - Philadelphia made it to the Cup finals, and he had 27 points and a dozen goals in the playoffs.

He played 760 games, and had 865 points. He averages one of the highest "points-per-game" stat, 1.138.

Sure, the end of his career was riddled with injury and complications, but in his prime, Lindros was a force to be reckoned with in the NHL.

Hall of Fame? You bet.

[northern wave]

one of the top goals per game ratio too.
name another superstar that fought heavyweights while producing the numbers he did?
also had an impressive international resume
2 World Junior golds
3 Olympics - 1 gold / 1 silver
Canada Cup gold in '91
World Cup '96

pretty solid

[downie_24]

I totally agree that if his career would have gone on longer and he wouldn't have had so many injuries, he would definetly be in the Hall. It's just that without even making it to 1000 points, it's a hard sell.

I see both of your points, but personally I would leave him out.

[sean.bonner]

I totally agree that if his career would have gone on longer and he wouldn't have had so many injuries, he would definetly be in the Hall. It's just that without even making it to 1000 points, it's a hard sell.

I see both of your points, but personally I would leave him out.

...I don't think Cam Neely was hard to sell.

[robert goulet]

Cam Neely goes down as the guy that "Got a Pass" into the HOF. They took his career numbers and factored in that he was riddled with injury throughout his career and made some projections. They also took into account that he changed the game of hockey by singlehandedly defining the role of the Power Forward. It can be argued that Lindros had a similar career based on those criteria but where he misses out on is his character and contribution to the game.

From the age of 16 where he gave the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds the big F YOU and refused to play for them after they drafted him first overall out of the Ontario Bantam draft. Then who can forget him pulling the exact same stunt with the Quebec Nordiques refusing to put on their jersey after yet another #1 overall pick. Then you have to consider the debacle that was his meddling parents who made a joke out of the League and the Flyers (love them or hate them) by interfering with absolutely everything.

He was a spoiled prick from Day 1 and now he is getting what he deserves. Karma's a bitch Eric.

Keep your head up in your next career, hopefully you can stay concussion-free in whatever you chose to do now. Maybe becoming a professional snowmobile rider...I'm still trying to figure out how he and his brother got out of that one.

[tth_fan]

Lindros shouldn't make it to the Hall purely based on the fact that he's a big baby. He didn't want to play for the Nordiques so he sat out (which ended good for the Nords/Avs, cause they got Forsberg, and 3 Cups in return). Then, he insisted he be traded to Toronto from Philly after him and his dad weren't getting along with Clarke.
A great hockey player, no doubt, at times he exemplified exactly what a pro athlete should not be. He's not a role model for kids, or for the sport of hockey.

[opiated]

agree with the last 2 posts..he's a bitch..cry-baby.whatever you want to call him..how do we know what his stats would be if he'd stayed healthy...tough luck big boy...goulet is right..Karma is a bitch..although not as big a bitch as Eric

[cferneyh]

I dunno - I think it is pretty easy for us "regular" folks to throw stones, but none of us had the kind of childhood he had. Imagine being told that you are going to be the next best thing to hit the NHL since you were 13, and tell me that wouldn't f*ck with your head.

Also, let's not forget that the Lindros family didn't have a problem with Quebec City. Their problem was with Marcel Aubut, and sure enough Aubut showed why they didn't trust him when (a) he tried to trade Lindros AFTER accepting the Philly offer, and (b) he cried poverty in running the Nordiques, begged for government subsidies for his franchise, and then sold the team for a nice fat profit.

Now, I'm not saying Lindros is totally innocent here - the way Crosby has dealt with superstardom from an early age puts Lindros to shame, but I don't think we have any idea of what it would have been like to be Eric Lindros as a teenager, when the only people you could really trust are your parents (something they likely ingrained in him from the get-go), and your parents aren't exactly masters of public relations.

Also, I remember reading an interview once with Keith Jones where he said that anyone who doesn't think Lindros was a great teammate and a great captain before he started having his run ins with Bob Clarke, wasn't in the Flyers' locker room. And he said that he never faulted Lindros for the issues he had with management, because if he had listened to the team's doctor in '99 when he suffered the (misdiagnosed) punctured lung, he'd be dead today.

And no one seems to mention that the Flyers doctor certainly had a reputationfor misdiagnosing players in an effort to get them back on the ice before they are ready. Just ask Dave Babych.

[opiated]

And no one seems to mention that the Flyers doctor certainly had a reputationfor misdiagnosing players in an effort to get them back on the ice before they are ready. Just ask Dave Babych.

I'd ask him, but he'd be way too slow in getting back to me

[Spycouple]

And no one seems to mention that the Flyers doctor certainly had a reputationfor misdiagnosing players in an effort to get them back on the ice before they are ready. Just ask Dave Babych.

I'd ask him, but he'd be way too slow in getting back to me

Nicely done!

Maybe you'll hear from Dana Murzyn instead.

[tommygunn]

Looking back over his career, I remember watching him and being amazed. I don't think the hockey world had seen (or has since) a player that could
do the things he did. He could do everything.

Wow.... hock:
You've never heard of Gordie Howe??!! Or even Mark Messier??

[mrlayance]

I think he should have retired after this,

[Lizard King]

He put up some decent numbers Ill give him that, but he had a pretty pathetic NHL career imo, his legacy doesnt even come close to someone like Gretzky, Richard or Lemeiux for example. He probably will get in, but he doesnt belong with the greats if you ask me. He came into the league like a loser and went out like a loser a fitting end. Im not sure when he's draft eligible but Id like to know who else is up for it that year. Anyone know how to find that out?