Lindros suing Paul Stewart

[LeftWinger 4,951]

...apparently, an article by Stewart portrays him as being a dick. "boo hoo, I'm not a dick..."

"You better not draft me (Quebec) I will never play for you!"

I knew he was a dick back then, Stewie's article just confirms something we all knew!

http://www.tsn.ca/lindros-files-lawsuit-against-former-referee-1.215863

Edited February 25, 2015 by LeftWinger

[Smite 399]

Huffington post article by Stewart LINK

Eric Lindros was a player I got off with on the wrong foot and we never developed a rapport because neither he nor I wanted one. It started out innocently enough.

I was working an afternoon Philadelphia-New Jersey game at the Spectrum; the back end of a home-and-home. The Devils won the previous game, 6-4, in a game refereed by Mark Faucette. The game got chippy late in the third period, with about 40 penalty minutes being handed out in the final five minutes, including roughing penalties to Lindros and Scott Stevens in the waning seconds of the game.

The start of the game at the Spectrum was delayed several minutes. I had to wait for the red light on the scorer's table to indicate that the broadcast had returned from a commercial and it was OK to drop the opening faceoff.

During the delay, I made small talk with several of the Devils and Flyers on the ice. I said hello to Mark Recchi and talked to Bernie Nicholls. I then tried to greet the 19-year-old rookie Lindros.

"Hey, Eric. How are things going? How's your dad?" I asked.

The response: "[bleep] you. Just drop the [bleeping] puck already."

Lindros was apparently in a bad mood because he'd recently missed 12 games with a knee injury, the team was in a losing skid, and he'd had a tough game in New Jersey. This game was also played about a week after Lindros had to go to court in Toronto after the Koo Koo Bananas incident. You know what? Those were his problems, not mine. But we were about to have a mutual problem.

Right off the opening faceoff, Lindros bulled forward and drilled Nicholls under the chin with his stick. I ditched Lindros on a high-sticking penalty.

Before the game, I had brought a tube filled with posters to Flyers' equipment manager Jim "Turk" Evers. The posters, which depicted Recchi and Lindros, were to be autographed and then donated to a charity auction. I had done a similar thing in other cities, such as a Cam Neely and Ray Bourque poster in Boston, and a Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr in Pittsburgh.

After the game, I want to Turk to collect the poster tube.

"Stewy, you're not going to like this," Evers said. "I don't have them."

"What do you mean you don't have them?" I asked.

"Well, Rex signed the posters but when Eric found out they were for you, he tore every one of them up. I'm sorry about that."

I never spoke to Eric Lindros again.

It does not surprise me.... Take it for what it is worth. But I have had conversations with ex-teammates of Lindros. All about what a POS he is. From picking a fight in a bar with Elvis Stojko (Canadian figure skater/black belt). Needless to say it did not end well with Lindros. To getting one of his concussions from being knocked out by teammate Rick Tocchet, because he was sleeping with his wife.

However it was interesting that Stewart listed Yzerman as a top 5 whiner.

Shortly after my retirement from the NHL as an active referee, the Hockey News asked me to name the five biggest whiners I had to deal with on the ice. In descending order from one to five, the players were Chris Gratton, Tyson Nash, Craig Janney, Steve Yzerman and Keith Tkachuk.

[LeftWinger 4,951]

I heard about the beat down from a teammate, but I thought I heard it was Rod Brind'Amour's wife, and it was more than one teammate that gave Lindors a "Blanket Party." Either way, still a Dick.

and Yzerman, as great as he was, was a whiner. You seen it all the time on the ice, his lips always complaining about crap. I am not surprised he is on a short list of whiners.

I guess Stewart never got to referee a game when Crosby got here!

Edited February 25, 2015 by LeftWinger

[GMRwings1983 8,794]

I always heard Lindros went out of his way for charities. The stories of Brind'Amour's wife have been around for a long time. Not like the Wings didn't have a player (Shanahan) who didn't once sleep with a teammate's wife. Not saying it's OK, but I doubt Lindros was the first or last player to do it.

I didn't like Stewart's article when it came out. It was honest (which I like), but he came off like an unprofessional ref by saying that he'd give some players leeway and not Lindros. Maybe all refs think that way, but it's not the proper way to ref by the book.

I heard about the beat down from a teammate, but I thought I heard it was Rod Brind'Amour's wife, and it was more than one teammate that gave Lindors a "Blanket Party." Either way, still a Dick.

and Yzerman, as great as he was, was a whiner. You seen it all the time on the ice, his lips always complaining about crap. I am not surprised he is on a short list of whiners.

I guess Stewart never got to referee a game when Crosby got here!

Would have had to be. Lindros could hold his own against any tough guy in the league.

[chaps80 1,591]

I was young at the time, but never really understood the Quebec deal. What was his problem with going there? Because they sucked? Because he was a suck? Have'nt heard of a player refusing to play for the NHL team that drafted them since, as crappy as the team was. Woulda been like Crosby telling the Pens to suck it. And we all know what a whiner he is.

Either way, it's funny how Quebec got some crucial players that contributed to the Avs two cups after the move to Colorado for Lindros, and Lindros only went to the Finals once with Philly, and was swept by the Wings. Retired cupless.

[PavelValerievichDatsyuk 1,935]

I was young at the time, but never really understood the Quebec deal. What was his problem with going there? Because they sucked? Because he was a suck? Have'nt heard of a player refusing to play for the NHL team that drafted them since, as crappy as the team was. Woulda been like Crosby telling the Pens to suck it. And we all know what a whiner he is.

Either way, it's funny how Quebec got some crucial players that contributed to the Avs two cups after the move to Colorado for Lindros, and Lindros only went to the Finals once with Philly, and was swept by the Wings. Retired cupless.

It was the shortage of endorsements that would be available and the limited visibility in the Quebec market. He wanted to play in a major market where he could make more money of endorsements and be a big star.

I'm sure the fact that the team was struggling was a part of it, though.

Edited February 25, 2015 by PavelValerievichDatsyuk

[chaps80 1,591]

It was the shortage of endorsements that would be available and the limited visibility in the Quebec market. He wanted to play in a major market where he could make more money of endorsements and be a big star.

I'm sure the fact that the team was struggling was a part of it, though.

Makes sense I guess. Philly sure gave up a hell of a package of players for him. Made Quebec a playoff team instantly, plus the $15 million in cash. Haven't seen anything like it since. At the time, many touted him as the best player since Gretzky though, just a bigger version. Obv he was never THAT great, but he was still damn good. If not for the injuries, he would have done a lot more.

[dirtydangles 1,328]

Lindros donated a lot of money to University Hospital in London Ontario for Sports Medicine. I wouldn't say he was a total dick off the ice that doesn't support charity.

On the ice - yeah I can't speak to that.

[chaps80 1,591]

Lindros donated a lot of money to University Hospital in London Ontario for Sports Medicine. I wouldn't say he was a total dick off the ice that doesn't support charity.

On the ice - yeah I can't speak to that.

This article was written about when Lindros was still a 19 year old kid, high on himself, high on what people were saying about how great he was, his dad was in his business. Does'nt give him the right to be a total dick, especially the not signing/destroying the posters for charity, but obv he matured if he started supporting charities and all that after awhile. It happens.

[RyanBarnes! 293]

Lindros was an awesome player before Stevens hit him. Gotta respect that.

[kipwinger 8,520]

Sooo, if I'm understanding this correctly Eric Lindos wants to prove he's not a douchebag by suing someone? Good plan numb nuts. Lol.

Edited February 27, 2015 by kipwinger

[DickieDunn 2,571]

Lindros donated a lot of money to University Hospital in London Ontario for Sports Medicine. I wouldn't say he was a total dick off the ice that doesn't support charity.

On the ice - yeah I can't speak to that.

He can sill be a dick, he's just a dick that gave a hospital some money.

[sibiriak 84]

Lindros donated a lot of money to University Hospital in London Ontario for Sports Medicine. I wouldn't say he was a total dick off the ice that doesn't support charity.

On the ice - yeah I can't speak to that.

Wasn't that for traumatic head injury research? The kind of injury he had?

[puckbags 863]

Whatever happens Eric just try to keep your head up........................

[toby91_ca 620]

Paul Stewart is really in trouble with this one...not sure how he can possibly avoid losing the lawsuit. Apparently Eric is denying the story about ripping up the posters as Stewart describes and the guy who Stewart suggests told him the story is also denying it. Winning the lawsuit would require Stewart to "prove" that the story is "factual".....I think he's going to have a really hard time doing that.

My guess is it will somehow be settled without getting to final conclusion though.

[chaps80 1,591]

Wow, Just read that he was originally asking $3 million?? Some guy said he was a dick for ripping up posters. Who cares? My neighbor told some of my other neighbors that i'm not friendly, don't take care of my lawn, and the '77 Camaro up on blocks in the driveway is'nt a decoration. I'm suing!! The amounts of money people sue for these days for stupid things are insane. Was moved down to $250,000, but thats still alot. Does anyone even remember Lindros anymore unless he pops up in the media?

Can let him away with being an idiot when he was young, but he's a 40+ retired NHL star. I doubt he needs the money, and it just makes him look like a suck. Move on Eric.

And yeah, i'm sure it'll be settled out of court somehow.

[toby91_ca 620]

If the story written is untrue, I can understand the lawsuit. I'm sure Stewart thinks it's true, but it's very dangerous to publish stories that you are hearing second hand...so he's finding that out.

However, if I'm Eric, my guess is the lawsuit has more to do with Stewart than the actual story.....since, the lawsuit is bringing a lot more eyes and attention to the story than would have by just having the story out there.