Flyers to retire Eric Lindros’ number
By Dave Lambert
Legendary on-ice wrecking ball Eric Lindros is set to have his number retired by the Philadelphia Flyers in a celebration of his exceptional career.
Those who saw Eric Lindros play, or have seen highlights of his brilliance, know that he was no ordinary player. He was a force of nature.
Now Lindros is preparing to have his dominance marked by the Flyers.
On Thursday his distinctive No. 88 jersey will be raised to the rafters of Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center, ahead of the opening face-off between the Flyers and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
His jersey will sit alongside those of other Flyers legends, including Bernie Parent and Bobby Clarke.
“It really is an honor,” Lindros told NHL.com. “It truly is. It’s a bit surreal. I don’t know if you can really speak to it until you go through it.”
Lindros was drafted first overall in 1991 by the Quebec Nordiques. But he refused to play for the Nordiques, and was eventually traded to Philadelphia in a true blockbuster of a deal.
Once in a Flyers jersey, Lindros made an immediate impact on the NHL. At 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, he was a physical force. Opponents couldn’t get near him.
But that was only part of his skill-set. Lindros was also a brilliant skater with quick hands, more in line with Johnny Gaudreau than the clutch and grab giants of the era. His unique blend of size and skill made him almost untouchable.
While in a Flyers jersey he won the ’94-’95 Hart Trophy, and still holds the franchise record for points-per-game. He also captained the team through the latter half of the ’90s and led the legendary Legion of Boom line.
Unfortunately, Lindros’ career was cut short. The superstar was forced to sit out the 2000-01 season after suffering a series of concussions.
Lindros was traded to the New York Rangers, and also enjoyed brief spells with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Dallas Stars before retiring.
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He was still a great player, but never matched the dominance of his eight years in Philadelphia.
There might be a question mark over the career of Eric Lindros – what could have been? But he is unlike any other player – before or since – and deserves the recognition of jersey retirement.