Does Eric Lindros belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame?
Does Eric Lindros belong in the hockey hall of fame?
According to the Hockey News’ Mike Brophy he does.
Brophy puts up Lindros’ numbers as evidence and sidesteps the ever-discussed political history by saying other players were also political and have made it to the Hall of Fame.
Hmmmm, somehow saying Bobby Hull sat out one game in protest doesn’t quite align with refusing to play for a team that legitimately drafted him. Twice.
Lindros was a player I loved to hate. From the moment he made his controversial stance in Quebec, to most of his years in Philly, I cursed him, derided his talent, and questioned his heart.
He was one of those players that no matter how well he was playing, I just couldn’t pick him in my pool, which led to a number of catastrophic playoff pool losses in the 90s.
He was the player who always seemed to have the call go his way, no matter what happened. Players found themselves sitting in the sin bin after being checked by Lindros, simply because he complained the loudest.
As time went on and his injuries mounted and his intensity lessened, I found myself without the Lindros-rage I’d carried. There was something sad about this once talented young man who made some bad decisions and suffered some scary injuries. It was tough to dislike a guy who was slowly watching his career drift away, and with every hit, maybe even his health.
Brophy posts some convincing numbers. So convincing in fact, that I’m realizing maybe the reason I disliked Lindros for so many years was that he was so damn good and so infuriating to play against.
I’m still not convinced he belongs in the Hall of Fame, but now I’m a lot more open to the debate.
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