Jay Greenberg: Time Healed Lindros and a Relationship

Always a great read. Thanks.

Thanks Jay.

Does this mean he moves his family to the Philadelphia area?

My impression was, at least publicly, the relationship started to go south when contract negotiations began getting aired in the press, culminating when Clarke said something to the effect (and justifiably so), "If Eric wants to be the highest paid player in the league, he needs to play like the highest paid player in the league. "

It's too bad that, at that time, the league and the referees were not using the "intent to injure" clause in the rulebook on predatory hits. Yes, they were "cleanly" delivered but were, at best, marginal hockey plays and blatantly delivered with the intention of separating a player's head from his body.

Thanks Jay.

Does this mean he moves his family to the Philadelphia area?

My impression was, at least publicly, the relationship started to go south when contract negotiations began getting aired in the press, culminating when Clarke said something to the effect (and justifiably so), "If Eric wants to be the highest paid player in the league, he needs to play like the highest paid player in the league. "

It's too bad that, at that time, the league and the referees were not using the "intent to injure" clause in the rulebook on predatory hits. Yes, they were "cleanly" delivered but were, at best, marginal hockey plays and blatantly delivered with the intention of separating a player's head from his body.
- GeorgeBailey

In addition to the head shots with intent injure, the clutching and grabbing that was typical in those days to allow teams of lessor talent to compete didn't help Eric's game either.

In addition to the head shots with intent injure, the clutching and grabbing that was typical in those days to allow teams of lessor talent to compete didn't help Eric's game either.
- hockeylover

It’s a real shame. People below, I dunno, 35 maybe, have no idea what he was like on the ice. An absolute force that took over when he was playing. Truly dominant. Plus, he was a fantastic line mate who made those around him better. Just look at LeClair’s time with him!

I truly believe he’d have broken Clarke’s records with the team had he not gotten his head scrambled and eventually left the city. 500 goals would have been a given. 600 would have been more than feasible.

The league was robbed of an elite talent.

Lindros was never a wordsmith or highly engaging orator, but there are videos of him when he was a junior and first few years in the league where he didn't seem near as stumbling, stoic or awkward as his later years. From his mid-career forward even until now, he has had the awkward public delivery.

I'm not criticizing him, I've just always wondered if the change was due to concussions, or lack of confidence in public because of the public drama, or both. Maybe none of the above.

Hi Mr Greenberg! Great piece on the Big E! I for one have never regretted the trade that brought Eric to Philly! Hextall was already breaking down, Mike Ricci was never going to be a franchise player, Kerry Huffman??!! Really??? Duchesne was a a good offensive d-man but not a great defenseman. Forsberg and Lindros cancel each other out! Forsberg went to a stacked Quebec team in the making! Simply stated: We Needed Lindros! Remember when Ryan Howard came to the plate in his prime?! You stopped what you were doing to watch! That was Lindros every single shift!! About 18-20 per game! He was polarizing, and a dud of an interview I’m sure but man he was fun to watch! If he’d only learned to skate with his head up! In the end, I sided with Clarke’s perspective! The Lindros family were making it about Eric first and not the Team! I still, after all the years, am happy we had him though. He was a thrill to watch! Take all the other BS out and he was the epitome of a Flyer!

It warms my heart to have Lindros officially back in the fold.

Every pro athlete owes him a debt of gratitude for taking the concussion beach basically on his own.

I think the Philly press at the time, Les Bowen, Sam Donelson, etc were brutal . I remember when Clarke wanted to kill Donelson for questioning a players manhood.

Glad to have Eric back. He was an amazing talent and one of the toughest players I have ever seen.

Go back and watch Game 5 of the 1996 series against Tampa. Lightning players literally launched themselves at his head for what seemed like the whole game. Eric engaged it more than he should have some of the time. But eventually enough is enough. Just ask Michel Petit and Igor Ulanov.

Also, the period from 1995-2000 should have resulted in at least one cup for the Flyers. Why didn't they get Eric a goalie?

The absolute greatest games of my youth were watching the Legion of Doom play against the NJ Devil's crash line. The Ranger rivalry is bigger but the most epic showdowns were often with the Flyers. Lindros was a monster and I always admired what a great player he was. He dished out and took a lot of punishment back in the day. It was just a remarkably brutal period in hockey.