Eric Lindros Has Finally Left the NHL Building

Eric Lindros announced his retirement on Thursday. He’s by far at the top of my list of NHL players I’d like to sit down and chat with. Many moons ago I stood next to Eric at a bagel store counter in NJ. It took restraint not to blurt out “what’s with the concussions?...are you sure you want to play hockey?” and instead I picked a dozen bagels and headed for the door. Despite his reputation (and my total lack of love for the Flyers) I always had a soft spot for Lindros. After the conflict with Quebec (now Colorado) and upon his entrance into the Flyers organization I had hoped he would have been given time to acclimate to pro hockey considering his rocky start and that being a rookie would have superseded his potential, that he’d be taken under the wing of a more experienced player and earn his stripes instead of being handed the Captain’s jersey while essentially being told “now go out there and win us the cup”. His accomplishments seemed to be plagued by an undertow of conflict and injury, an undertow that seemed to open up more the possibility of self-sabotage. I wondered if his injuries were rooted in fate or free will and if the added drama on and off the ice was simply a means to an end, maybe not consciously but subconsciously – that he provoked other players so that someone would retaliate and take him out of the game (Stevens came close to doing just that). Maybe getting out this way would provide him with a legitimate reason rather than disappointing anyone, more specifically his father. Was what seemed like rebellion about not wanting to play hockey or in response to being treated like a multi-million dollar making object? I remember reading an article where Eric stated that he envied his brother Brett who was going to college post concussion and exit from the NHL. So after the umpteenth injury I had hoped someone around him would say something like “maybe it’s time you look into what other parts of life have to offer, you know go to college or backpack around Europe…go find your smile like that guy in City Slickers”. Whether a matter of fate or free will, quite possibly a mixture of the two, I hope retirement brings Eric a breath of fresh air as he goes about getting to know the person he is beyond the NHL. When all is said and done, Lindros made a great impact in and on the NHL. One thing he didn’t fall short of was becoming the ‘next one’. There was and is only ever going to be one Great One.

The E-train is once again on the move…