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Eric Lindros

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Eric Lindros

Eric Bryan Lindros (born February 28, 1973 in London, Ontario, Canada) is a professional ice hockey player. His once promising career has been clouded by frequent serious injuries and a headstrong approach to the game's politics.

Playing career

Early career

Eric Lindros has Swedish heritage. His great grandfather Axel immigrated from Sweden to Canada, and Eric is from the third generation of Lindroses to have been born in Canada. "Lindros" means "Rose of the Linden tree."

As a teenaged power forward playing minor hockey, Lindros became nationally famous both for his scoring feats and his ability to physically dominate players up to six years older than him. Lindros played for the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League for parts of three seasons from 1990 to 1992. During that time, he scored 97 goals and had 119 assists in 95 games played. He attended St. Michael's College School in Toronto with his brother and fellow hockey player, Brett Lindros. Lindros' play made him the most highly valued amateur player in North America and he was often nicknamed "The Next One," a reference to Wayne Gretzky's moniker "The Great One."

A controversy arose when Lindros refused to go to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds after they drafted him. Lindros had already stated his intention not to join the Greyhounds, but Greyhounds owner Phil Esposito had drafted him anyway, enabling Esposito to sell his share in the team at a higher price. Lindros was traded to the Oshawa Generals instead, and when they played the Greyhounds, some Greyhound players wore black armbands in protest of Lindros' antics.

Lindros' entry to the National Hockey League proceeded in much the same manner. Lindros was selected first overall by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft. Lindros had signaled in advance that he would never play for the Nordiques, going so far as to refuse to wear the team's jersey on draft day; the team selected him knowing that they could command a high price in trade. In 1992, the Nordiques worked out trades for him with both the New York Rangers, and Philadelphia Flyers. Eventually, an arbitrator by the name of Larry Bertuzzi – uncle of NHLer Todd Bertuzzi – ruled his rights belonged to the Flyers, for whom he played from 1992 to 2000, most of the time as the team's captain.

Many consider this trade a key reason that the Colorado Avalanche, which the Nordiques became in 1995, went on to be an NHL powerhouse. They received in the trade Peter Forsberg, Ron Hextall, Chris Simon, Mike Ricci, Kerry Huffman, Steve Duchesne, a 1st round selection (Jocelyn Thibault) in 1993, a 1st round selection (later traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs, later traded to the Washington Capitals - Nolan Baumgartner) in 1994, and $15,000,000 cash. Since the trade, the Avalanche have won eight division titles and two Stanley Cup championships, due in large part to the play of Forsberg and Patrick Roy, whom the Avalanche received in a package deal that included Thibault.[1]

Philadelphia Flyers

With his imposing physical strength and playmaking ability, Lindros established himself as the top player on a Flyers team that had perenially been in contention but always fell short. His time in Philadelphia would see him score points at a phenomenal rate and become one of the most feared players in the NHL, eventually leading the Flyers to the Stanley Cup finals in 1997 (which they lost to the Detroit Red Wings); he would also suffer frequent injuries and feud with general manager Bobby Clarke.

Along with John LeClair and Mikael Renberg he played on the dreaded "Legion of Doom" line. He scored over 40 goals in each of first two seasons and won the Hart Trophy as MVP in the lockout-shortened season of 1995 by scoring 29 goals and 41 assists in 46 games. 1997, he led the Flyers to the Stanley Cup finals, handily defeating their three opponents along the way. The Flyers were overmatched against the Detroit Red Wings, however, and failed to win a game. Lindros' only goal of the Stanley Cup Finals came in Game 4, with the Flyers down 2-0 and minutes away from being swept.

Lindros' relationship with Flyers general manager Bobby Clarke soon deteriorated. He and Clarke feuded in the media, with Clarke questioning his toughness; Lindros spent many games on the injured reserve and suffered a series of concussions. He was also accused of having an affair with Rod Brind'amour's wife. During an April 1, 1999 game against the Nashville Predators, Lindros suffered what was diagnosed as a rib injury. Later that night, the teammate he was sharing a hotel room with, Keith Jones, discovered Lindros lying in a tub, pale and feverish. Lindros was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital and it was discovered he had a collapsed lung. Lindros's domineering parents, who had a history of speaking for him when it came to matters with the Flyers (including telling Clarke who should play on Lindros' lines), accused the Flyers team doctors of not diagnosing the injury properly. Lindros returned after being stripped of his captaincy in the Eastern Conference Finals, in which he played the final two games of the series, the latter of which Lindros suffered another concussion after an infamous hit by New Jersey Devils player Scott Stevens. The Flyers lost the final game and the series, and Lindros became a restricted free agent during the off-season.


Other Teams

He refused to sign with the Flyers, who still owned his rights and refused to deal him to the Toronto Maple Leafs, as he preferred, and Lindros sat out the 2000-01 NHL season before being traded to the New York Rangers in 2001. Ironically it was the Rangers with whom he had almost begun his NHL career. In September 2001, The Flyers dealt him to the Rangers for Jan Hlavac, Kim Johnsson, Pavel Brendl and a conditional draft pick.

He played for the Rangers for the next three seasons. Though his second season with them was the first injury-free one of his career, in 2004 he sustained his eighth concussion. He was given permission by a doctor to resume training; however, two doctors have suggested Lindros retire. He again became an unrestricted free agent. On August 11, 2005, after the NHL labour dispute had wiped out the 2004-05 season, Lindros signed a one-year, $1.55 million contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs for the 2005-06 NHL season. After a steady start to his tenure with Toronto in which he recorded 22 points in 32 games, Lindros suffered a tear of a ligament in his left wrist against the Dallas Stars on December 10th, 2005. After a 27 game absence, Lindros returned to the Toronto lineup on February 28th, 2006 against the Washington Capitals. His return was shortlived however, as he re-injured his wrist while taking a slapshot in a game against the Ottawa Senators on March 5th, 2006 effectively ending his season. He had surgery on the ligament by Dr. Herb von Schroeder two days after the game. His future with the Toronto Maple Leafs remains uncertain at this point in time. However, Lindros has made intimations in the press that he would be interested in returning with the Leafs next season.

Family

His brother Brett was also a professional player but was forced to retire early due to multiple concussions. His father is also his agent, and his family has been criticized for pushing him too hard and interfering with his hockey decisions.

Trivia

Lindros's nickname is "The Big E," which was originally the nickname of the USS Enterprise, the famous World War II aircraft carrier.

An urban legend floated around in the mid-1990s, stipulating that Lindros had engaged figure skater Elvis Stojko in a bar fight and had lost. Like most urban legends, this one is completely false; Lindros and Stojko are actually friends, and both have represented Team Canada in various Olympic games. While it is true that Stojko is a black belt martial artist, the likelyhood of him fighting Lindros, who is nearly a foot taller and much heavier, seems laughable.[2]

Awards

Career statistics

    Regular Season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1989-90 Oshawa Generals OHL 25 17 19 36 61 17 18 18 36 76
1990-91 Oshawa Generals OHL 57 71 78 149 189 16 18 20 38 93
1991-92 Oshawa Generals OHL 13 9 22 31 54 -- -- -- -- --
1992-93 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 61 41 34 75 147 -- -- -- -- --
1993-94 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 65 44 53 97 103 -- -- -- -- --
1994-95 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 46 29 41 70 60 12 4 11 15 18
1995-96 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 73 47 68 115 163 12 6 6 12 43
1996-97 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 52 32 47 79 136 19 12 14 26 40
1997-98 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 63 30 41 71 134 5 1 2 3 17
1998-99 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 71 40 53 93 120 -- -- -- -- --
1999-00 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 55 27 32 59 83 2 1 0 1 0
2001-02 New York Rangers NHL 72 37 36 73 138 -- -- -- -- --
2002-03 New York Rangers NHL 81 19 34 53 141 -- -- -- -- --
2003-04 New York Rangers NHL 39 10 22 32 60 -- -- -- -- --
2005-06 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 33 11 11 22 43 -- -- -- -- --
NHL Totals 711 367 472 839 1328 50 24 33 57 118

International play

Olympic medal record
Men's Ice Hockey
Gold medal – first place 2002 Salt Lake City Ice Hockey
Silver medal – second place 1992 Albertville Ice Hockey

Played for Canada in:

Preceded by Philadelphia Flyers captains
1994-2000 		Succeeded by
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