Anytime a team’s former player gets inducted into the hall of fame it raises excitement and nostalgia amongst the fans. The same rang true on Monday afternoon when Flyers’ fans learned that former captain Eric Lindros will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2016.
Lindros’ tenure with the orange and black began amongst much controversy. In 1991 the Quebec Nordiques drafted Eric Lindros with the first overall pick after the Lindros camp made it clear the prospect had no interest in playing for Quebec. The Nordiques refused to trade Lindros leading him to returning to his junior hockey team. A year later at the 1992 Draft Quebec finally decided to trade the rights to Lindros and managed to agree two deals with both the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers. The famous double trade happened due to the fact that Quebec had two different representatives in talks with both the Flyers and the Rangers. The next 5 days would see an arbitration hearing take place that eventually ruled in favor of Philadelphia. The Flyers sent Ron Hextall, Kerry Huffman, Steve Duchesne, Mike Ricci, Chris Simon, Peter Forsberg, two first round picks, and $15 million . The trade would go on to change the way the NHL handles the finalizing of trades.
Once in Philadelphia Lindros quickly became one of the top players in the league. During his rookie season, the man they would call Big E went on to record 41 goals and 34 assist and made the NHL’s All-Rookie Team. Before the 1994-95 season, the Flyers named Lindros the 11th captain of their team. That same season Lindros won the Hart Trophy as the league MVP. However, a year later in the ’95-’96, Lindros had his best statistical year recording 47 goals and 68 assists. He would go on to lead the Flyers to the Stanley Cup Final in 1997. Flyers’ fans all too well that the series ended and season would end with the orange and black being swept by the Detroit Red Wings. Philadelphia would not return to the Final for the remainder of Lindros’ time with the team.
Lindros was a game changing player for the Flyers in all of his 8 years with the team. The Flyers went from a team struggling game in and game out to compete, to a dominant powerhouse that other teams feared to play. It was because of the dominance of Eric Lindros that winning hockey returned to the city of Brotherly Love. Once again fans were excited about the Flyers, once again opponents feared playing in the Spectrum, and most importantly once again the Flyers were back on top of the league. Widely regarded as the next great NHL star, Lindros would not disappoint. Flyers fans will always remember the Legion of Doom line with Lindros, John LeClair, and Mychal Renberg. The three forwards made up the most dominant line in hockey at the time that is still regarded and remembered as one of the best lines in the history of the sport.
Due to Lindros’ hard hitting play on the ice he suffered several concussions which seemingly led to his untimely departure from Philadelphia. After suffering a concussion in March of the ’99-’00 season Lindros criticized team doctors for not diagnosing the problem after a game against Buffalo two weeks earlier. Then general manager Bobby Clarke took away the captaincy from Lindros. The Flyers would go on to reach the Eastern Conference Finals in Lindros’ absence. Number 88 returned for game 6 of the series and was the Flyers’ lone goal scorer. In game 7 New Jersey Devils’ defenseman Scott Stevens delivered a devastating check on the former Flyers captain. Once again Lindros was diagnosed with a concussion and would never play again for Philadelphia.
Lindros would go on to play for the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Dallas Stars, but was never the same player he was in Philadelphia.
Eric Lindros retired from hockey in 2007 at the age of 34. His Hall of Fame career is highlighted by his natural scoring ability and his undoubtable skill to make the players around him better. In my opinion he was the second best player and captain in the history of the Flyers. All negativity aside with how he left the team and his injury history, Eric Lindros truly did reignite the excitement for hockey in Philadelphia. We will never know how could it could have been had his concussions not been such an issue. Nevertheless Eric Lindros is a Flyers legend and now with his Hall of Fame induction should bring the retirement of his number 88 by the team. Flyers fans who watched his greatness on the ice and who were swept up in the excitement of the teams he lead should all be forever grateful for the man they call Big E.
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