Pretty obvious that Lindros belongs in there with Bure and Neely. The league as a whole should feel ashamed for treating concussions so flippantly for so long.
- Feanor

Oh yeah, no doubt.

Watching Smallwood discuss hockey is akin to watching a mouse discuss astrophysics.
- MBFlyerfan

He's still better than Marcus Hayes who has an absolute complete disdain for the game.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Hockey Hall of Fame, New Flyers, Top Forward Prospects
- bmeltzer

awesome stuff on Shero
that reverse approach to pracitices (hard ones during win streaks, fun ones after bad losses) and the reasons behind it was so interesting.

wish i could have been around to see him coach.


also love this line. can totally picture him doing this

If it meant asking players to do bizarre drills during practice or feigning befuddlement about the identity of a recently called-up player who magically appeared on his lineup card, he would do it.

- Pat MaGroin

Bill, you nailed the rationale for keeping Lindros out. There can be no other explanation other than the one you gave, because it's certainly not on the merit of Eric's work on the ice. If you let Cam Neely and Pavel Bure in, you have to let Eric in, IMO. Maybe once other players of that era (the dead puck era) start getting in, there'll be more support for the E Train. I'm glad, however, that Eric is back in the fold here in Philly.

As for Freddie Shero, I can't help but wonder how he would have felt about the use of advanced statistics.
- johndewar

Look how long it took Shero and Mark Howe to get in. They're in no rush to put anyone who made their impact in Philadelphia in the Hall.

Maybe Bonnie could send them a threatening note.

Was on the fence if it was him or Marcus Hayes. Personally I think he's a HOF player, but like you said Bill, there probably a personal vendetta against by some of the committee.
- Pat MaGroin

I'm not going to opine as to whether or not he should have made it this year, but in all honesty, there ARE players in the HoF who are less deserving than Lindros.

He's still better than Marcus Hayes who has an absolute complete disdain for the game.
- mayorofangrytown

I don't understand the grounds on which Marcus Hayes is allowed to accept a paycheck for writing. It's certainly not on the merits of his sports knowledge or writing ability.

I wish he'd pull a Rich Kotite and fail out of his chosen industry and never be seen again publicly. He's that bad.

Eric Lindros is a big reason why I became a Flyers fan. He'll get in. I don't expect him to be long dead or anything, so no need to be frustrated. He'll get in.

Look how long it took Shero and Mark Howe to get in. They're in no rush to put anyone who made their impact in Philadelphia in the Hall.

Maybe Bonnie could send them a threatening note.
- mayorofangrytown

Or even better.....Bonnie and Carl can start their own sports representation agency.

That alone might scare the crap out of the NHL.

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Hockey Hall of Fame, New Flyers, Top Forward Prospects
- bmeltzer

"I have never seen such a big, physical player who also had so much skill and finesse."

Ovechkin is almost as big, skates better, is more skilled, about as physical, just doesn't fight as much as 88 did.

That said, Lindros > Neely and Bure

"I have never seen such a big, physical player who also had so much skill and finesse."

Ovechkin is almost as big, skates better, is more skilled, about as physical, just doesn't fight as much as 88 did.

That said, Lindros > Neely and Bure
- phillydentist

Did Lindros have consistency problems? Cause OV does.

It's ridiculous that Lindros is not in the Hall of Fame. From 1993 to 1999 he was simply the most dominant player in the sport.

If the Flyers had at the time a true #1 defenseman (sorry, Desjardins was good, but a not a #1), and a top flight goalie, they would have certainly won a cup during that era.

At his peak, he averaged over 1.25 points per game in an era where on-ice mugging was basically legal. If he had played with today's obstruction rules in place, he could have easily put up 55 goals and 130 points. Heck even in the Winter Classic Alumni game he still looked better than some players who are currently in the league today.

With all due respect, if Cam Neely is a hall of famer, than Eric Lindros is too!!

Did Lindros have consistency problems? Cause OV does.
- JAKEw1234

Yes, he did.

Even in his prime, he took shifts off if not games off. He was criticized for that among some of the fan base. I think it might be nature of being a great player. People expect you to be great all the time.

Cam Neely (HOF) Games: 726 Goals: 395 Assists:299 PTS:694
Eric Lindros: Games: 760 Goals: 372 Assists:493 PTS:865

Lindros also posted a +215 over his career better than Shanny who made it yesterday and had a longer career...

Bobby Clarke did this to Lindros when he made EVERYTHING public...it is one thing to comment on the dissatisfaction with the team doctors...it is another to go out of your way to humilate your Captain.
- JW98FlyerFan

Wow...I couldn't agree more. Clarke killed this guy.

"I have never seen such a big, physical player who also had so much skill and finesse."

Ovechkin is almost as big, skates better, is more skilled, about as physical, just doesn't fight as much as 88 did.

- phillydentist

Um yeah, Im going to have to go ahead and disagree with you on that one.

Yes, he did.

Even in his prime, he took shifts off if not games off.
- phillydentist

I feel like almost all players have that problem, though. OV is my favorite player besides for Giroux and VoraCzech, btw. But it feels like a concern people have with almost any player, is consistency problems. Who doesn't have a consistency problem today?

"I have never seen such a big, physical player who also had so much skill and finesse."

Ovechkin is almost as big, skates better, is more skilled, about as physical, just doesn't fight as much as 88 did.

That said, Lindros > Neely and Bure
- phillydentist

Lindros was just as skilled as Ovechkin in his prime and more dominant physically. Some of the hits he threw in the early part of his career were simply awe inspiring. Furthermore, he had an excellent wrist shot, as good a backhand as anyone since Gordie Howe, an incredibly soft passing touch for such a huge man, was dominant on faceoffs and it was simply impossible to take the puck off him along the boards.

I am reminded of a game against St. Louis. After the game, which the Flyers had won, Chris Pronger, who was with the Blues at the time, said something like:
It's hard enough to travel and play on back to back nights, but when you have to face mutants like Lindros and Leclair, its just about impossible.

During his peak, Lindros was hands down the best combination of size, skill and strength the NHL had ever seen.

Was on the fence if it was him or Marcus Hayes. Personally I think he's a HOF player, but like you said Bill, there probably a personal vendetta against by some of the committee.
- Pat MaGroin

In this city, it could have been Smallwood, Hayes, Mikey Miss (I know, radio and TV, but he did come from a newspaper background)... hell, I'd be tempted to throw Panaccio, Seravalli, and Carchidi into the "throw everything they all know about hockey into a thimble, and you'd still have room for your thumb" club as well.

I feel like almost all players have that problem, though. OV is my favorite player besides for Giroux and VoraCzech, btw. But it feels like a concern people have with almost any player, is consistency problems. Who doesn't have a consistency problem today?
- JAKEw1234

Yep, you brought up the topic!

Thing with Ovechkin is I never thought he was that big because he's so agile and skates like a smaller man. But the dude is 6-3 230lbs compared to 6-4 235lb Lindros in his prime.

I feel like almost all players have that problem, though. OV is my favorite player besides for Giroux and VoraCzech, btw. But it feels like a concern people have with almost any player, is consistency problems. Who doesn't have a consistency problem today?
- JAKEw1234

Leighton. He sucks, but he does it consistently.

"I have never seen such a big, physical player who also had so much skill and finesse."

Ovechkin is almost as big, skates better, is more skilled, about as physical, just doesn't fight as much as 88 did.

That said, Lindros > Neely and Bure
- phillydentist

Ovi gets to play in an era when he can't be hooked and grabbed all game long. Or have someone take blatant head shots at him.

Having said that...Lindros was more skilled, more physical and a better teammate than OVi all day long. LeClair should thank Lindros for his career even existing.

Does anyone know at this moment how much the Flyers have under the "10% off-season cap". I know Prongers and Wellwoods contracts counts, as do a few guys in the AHL. I think the main reason Gagne isn't signed right now is because they dont have the room under the 10%. Just waiting to move Meszaros IMO.

Yep, you brought up the topic!

Thing with Ovechkin is I never thought he was that big because he's so agile and skates like a smaller man. But the dude is 6-3 230lbs.
- phillydentist

Ya watch out for Nichushkin he's actually taller than Ovechkin and skates like beast as well. Once he fills out to Ovechkin weight, he'll be a similar type of player with his size combined with skating. But he'll have consistency problems

During his peak, Lindros was hands down the best combination of size, skill and strength the NHL had ever seen.
- BiggE

No question. I grew up with Lindros as my favorite player and still look back fondly on the 90's Flyers hockey.

The players have gotten bigger today. Plenty of guys 6-4 or much bigger.

Great summary of how Freddie worked and why he was so important to the success of the Flyers during his seven seasons here. Mike Emrick called me last night as he was heading home from the selection committee meeting in Toronto to tell me how good both he and JD felt about this particular selection and how pleased that they both are that the votes were finally there to get him in. I'm sure that Pat Quinn who is now President of the HHoF (and who was also given his first coaching job by Freddie as an assistant with the Flyers in 1976) and Burkie, among others, were also especially strong advocates.

I also got an email this morning from Ray Shero thanking me for my HB blog from yesterday and telling me how very much this long belated honor means to him and other members of the Shero family. (Ray also said that he loved the story about Freddie wearing my glasses in his Flyers training camp picture.) Having been at Freddie's funeral in 1990 and hearing Ray's eulogy I know that his remarks on his dad's behalf at the Induction in November will be memorable indeed and I am awaiting hearing them with the same enthusiasm as I did Mark Howe's glorious yet humble speech in 2011. As Badger Bob Johnson said so often, Freddie's induction to the Hall will be another "great day for hockey"!!