Eric Lindros Retires

[Hank 0]

At the NHLPA press conference today to introduce Paul Kelly as the new NHLPA Director, Eric Lindros told reporters that he is done as a player and will be looking to be named the Ombudsman for the NHLPA.

Will that job involve him keeping his head up?

He did win a Hart Trophy and was the most dominate player in the game in the mid-to-late 90s.

I don't think he's in Alexandre Daigle territory.

No, but he was still a bust. He was great for a very short time and I think his PPG is still in the top 10. But if you weigh the expectations he carried to what he actually accomplished he was a bust.

Scouts and GM's felt he had the ability to win multiple Cups, Conn Smyth Art Ross and Hart trophies. He won 1 of the 4. And only once.

Lindros's greatest asset turned out to be his biggest downfall - his size. I remember watching him in junior and because of his size and speed, teams would back up and let him do whatever he wanted. He could literally skate an entire game staring at his laces without any repercussions. He couldn't do that in the NHL and it's why his head is a mush mellon now.

I wish him luck in the PA. He was a treat to watch for about 5-6 years.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

That's the only way he'll make the HHOF. No way does he deserve it as a player.

Why not? Cam Neely made it in. Lindros just like Neely was dominant for a number of years, but don't forget that Lindros wasn't just a top player, but at one time was the best player in the league. Cam Neely was never the best player in the league. Likewise, Lindros has a Canada Cup and a gold medal in his favor. His point per game numbers are better than many players who aren't in the HOF. That is why I didn't want Neely to make it in the HOF, because that opened a pandora's box for other guys who were great for a while, but had their careers end early. Personally, I don't think either guy should be in the Hall, but if Neely is in, then I believe Lindros has an even better argument.

[Hank 0]

Why not? Cam Neely made it in. Lindros just like Neely was dominant for a number of years, but don't forget that Lindros wasn't just a top player, but at one time was the best player in the league. Cam Neely was never the best player in the league. Likewise, Lindros has a Canada Cup and a gold medal in his favor. His point per game numbers are better than many players who aren't in the HOF. That is why I didn't want Neely to make it in the HOF, because that opened a pandora's box for other guys who were great for a while, but had their careers end early. Personally, I don't think either guy should be in the Hall, but if Neely is in, then I believe Lindros has an even better argument.

I agree. If Neely made it in, so should Lindros.

But in my opinion Neely didn't deserve to be there either. The only thing he did that was truly special was score 50 in 49 games. Other than that, what makes him better than Cicarelli who scored 608 goals?

The HHOF is a joke. You've got guys with over 1000 points on the outside while Jacque Lemaire has only 850 and he's in it. That's a joke.

[The Enforcer 13]

At the NHLPA press conference today to introduce Paul Kelly as the new NHLPA Director, Eric Lindros told reporters that he is done as a player and will be looking to be named the Ombudsman for the NHLPA.

The big E never learned to skate with his head up all the time. I still remember the Scott Stevens hit.

[toby91_ca 620]

Out of curiousity, is Pat Lafontaine a bust? Bobby Orr, Mike Bossy? All of their careers were cut short due to injuries.

Lindros may be a bust in some people's minds from the point of view that he did not accomplish everything that was expected, but when he was healthy, he was nothing short of dominant.

He's actually only 100pts behind Maurice "Rocket" Richard's career total and he's played in 218 less games.

He also has close to the same number of goals and close to 200 more points than Mr. Hall of Famer, Cam Neely.

The big E never learned to skate with his head up all the time. I still remember the Scott Stevens hit.

I think the problem is that he didn't have to keep his head up in Junior, he was a monster amongst boys and guys would just bounce off of him if they tried to hit him.

I think genetics probably has something to do with it as well since his younger brother retired due to concussions at the age of 20 or 21.

[bringback91 2]

Eh, I'll give him some congrats on his career, but I could never stand the guy. He's the definition of greed. Had obvious talent but seemed lazy to me and never did the things (like back checking) to change my mind. Big size and a bigger ego, it was him and his style of play that finally did him in. Seemed the type that could dish it out, but could never take it. Vladdy almost singlehandedly (if that's even a word) shut him down in 97. Although I don't care for him, I will miss rooting against him.

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

There are many different reasons why a player can be considered a bust. When Lindros was healthy he was a very good player, but how often was Lindros healthy? A player with all that skill being out so much because of injuries, I call that a bust.... One of the biggest busts of all time, that might be a stretch, one of the most disappointing big name players in the 90's/2000's is a fitting title, again not because of his skill/ability. You can have all the skill in the world, but if you cant be healthy enough to use it, it doesn't do anyone anygood.

Well then, by the health aspect alone as you point out, Peter Forsberg ought to be considered a bust to. How many times has that guy been injured? Yeah, he won cups with great teams in Colorado but you're talking purely about ability to stay healthy. Cam Neely couldn't stay healthy, he's in the HOF. Forberg has been one of the most oft injured players in league history, so by your standards, he is also a bust, right?

[Hank 0]

Well then, by the health aspect alone as you point out, Peter Forsberg ought to be considered a bust to. How many times has that guy been injured? Yeah, he won cups with great teams in Colorado but you're talking purely about ability to stay healthy. Cam Neely couldn't stay healthy, he's in the HOF. Forberg has been one of the most oft injured players in league history, so by your standards, he is also a bust, right?

I think the biggest reason Forsberg gets a pass is because he won 2 Cups and when healthy is still dominant.

The last couple of seasons, even when Lindros was completely healthy he was a good 3rd line winger, not the dominant center he was in Philly.

Another reason why Floppa gets a pass over Lindros is that the Big E is Canadian. People are always looking for the next great hockey star and usually that means great Canadian star ala Gretzky, Lemieux, Orr.

People were really thinking that Lindros would be a mutli Cup and Hart winner. I don't think Forsberg ever had those expectations coming into the league.

P.S. Is it true that Lindros nailed Brind'Amour's wife and that's why Rod the Bod was shipped out of town?

[interminded 1]

P.S. Is it true that Lindros nailed Brind'Amour's wife and that's why Rod the Bod was shipped out of town?

He did a Mike Comrie ?

[Hank 0]

He did a Mike Comrie ?

Okay, I'll tell you my story but you have to tell yours.

First off, this is all hearsay so I'm sure it's not true at all. This comes from a source through a source who knew John Leclair.

Anyway, Lindros banged Brind'Amour's wife. Brindy was traded to keep things under wraps and to keep Lindros around.

When the players found out about it, supposedly John Leclair, Eric Desjardins and Chris Therien took Lindros aside and roughed him up. It was at this time that Lindros was working out with the Phantoms to get in shape after suffering an injury. But remember how he suffered a 'concussion' during a Phantoms practice? Well supposedly it was a concussion due to the beating he took from his teammates and not from a hit in practice.

This was in the 99-00 season - Lindros' last with the Flyers.

What's the rumour with Comrie?

[interminded 1]

What's the rumour with Comrie?

The rumour was that Comrie was traded out of Edmonton because he slept with goaltender Tommy Salo's wife.

They (Salo & wife) were in the middle of a divorce and Comrie (allegedly) took advantage of that.

(type COMRIE SALO WIFE in google and there's loads of stuff.. )

[C-TownWing 0]

But if you weigh the expectations he carried to what he actually accomplished he was a bust.

That's exactly it to me--he didn't come anywhere close to the vicinity of the expectations placed upon him when he came into the league. The word "bust" seems kind of harsh for someone with his resume though.

As someone who sort of liked the Nordiques until they became the Avalanche, that whole mess always left a bad taste in my mouth and pretty much poisons my opinion of Big E.

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

Okay, I'll tell you my story but you have to tell yours.

First off, this is all hearsay so I'm sure it's not true at all. This comes from a source through a source who knew John Leclair.

Anyway, Lindros banged Brind'Amour's wife. Brindy was traded to keep things under wraps and to keep Lindros around.

When the players found out about it, supposedly John Leclair, Eric Desjardins and Chris Therien took Lindros aside and roughed him up. It was at this time that Lindros was working out with the Phantoms to get in shape after suffering an injury. But remember how he suffered a 'concussion' during a Phantoms practice? Well supposedly it was a concussion due to the beating he took from his teammates and not from a hit in practice.

This was in the 99-00 season - Lindros' last with the Flyers.

What's the rumour with Comrie?

I found a few articles that make the alleged affair seem in question at least

http://www.armchairgm.com/index.php?title=Eric_Lindros

check out the date of this article, wouldn't this have been after any affair ocurred? I doubt I'd call a guy a great guy if he banged my wife behind my back

http://slam.canoe.ca/HockeyPhiladelphiaArchive/apr3_bri.html

[Hank 0]

I found a few articles that make the alleged affair seem in question at least

http://www.armchairgm.com/index.php?title=Eric_Lindros

check out the date of this article, wouldn't this have been after any affair ocurred? I doubt I'd call a guy a great guy if he banged my wife behind my back

http://slam.canoe.ca/HockeyPhiladelphiaArchive/apr3_bri.html

Yeah, I didn't put much weight into it either. It's still fun fiction though.

Edited October 25, 2007 by Hank

[wingfanatic4alltime 32]

Its still a great rumor though. But after reading those two articles i doubt the lindros affair happened.

[Kp-Wings 3]

This was pretty much bound to happen since the end of last season.

Good luck Eric.

[A.T.Hun 0]

Lindros is considered a "bust" of sorts for two main reasons:

1) All the hype surrounding him when he first came out. Pretty much nobody short of Gretzky could have lived up to that.

2) That he was traded for Peter Forsberg, Ron Hextall, Chris Simon, Mike Ricci, Kerry Huffman, Steve Duchesne, two #1s, and $15 million. That trade transformed the Nordiques from being a joke into the Stanley-Cup-contending (and winning) Avalanche.

Edited October 26, 2007 by A.T.Hun