When people really look at Eric's numbers and play on the ice, it's impossible, LITERALLY, to try and oppose his entrance into the HoF... I mean really, put the crap aside, and just look at his on-ice stuff and it's literally alien-like..


And for the post comparing Ovechkin to Lindros... The ONLY thing to two have in common is skill level, very comparable. Lindros was MUCH bigger than OV, played MUCH more physical, and was MUCH, MUCH, MUCH more intimidating than OV. OV is listed at 6'2'' and about 230, when he is closer to 6'1.5 and 220-225... Eric was a legit 6'4'' and 240 minimum.

For those who watch TSN up here in Canada, all you have to do is listen to Ray Ferraro or Mike Johnson talk about playing Eric in the 90s, they praise him as THE player of that generation and the most dominating player to play against, literally. In an article written in the Sun, Farraro had this to say:


“I remember him as the most dominating player of our generation,” said Ray Ferraro, the hockey commentator, who played more than 10 years against Lindros in the NHL. “When he was at his peak, he was unstoppable.

“You hear people talk about the Legion of Doom line. You could not stop them. It wasn’t the Legion of Doom. Believe me, it wasn’t Mikael Renberg or John LeClair. It was Eric. You couldn’t stop him."
- Flyers_V88

Agreed. Lindros was like a scary body builder on skates with height and an insane skillset.

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 his 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"!!
- iScoop

Interesting stories, Scoop.

Funny enough, I also got an email from Ray Shero last night, letting me know he really liked the gif I posted yesterday. He must be a huge fan of the Buzz.

"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

You must never have watched Lindros play in his prime. The only thing OV does better than Lindros is skate faster. In every other skill area Lindros is equal (and in most cases better) than OV. And in the non-skill aspects of the game Lindros is the clear winner. He hit more, and hit harder than OV ever will, and absolutely nobody wanted to fight him. Nobody is worried about fighting OV.

OV is a great player - not saying he isn't. But he's not as good as Lindros was, nor as complete a player.

Lindros in his prime >>>> OV in his prime.

You probably believe Kessel plays at 205 too.
- djamon

Yes I do.

I also believe the Leafs were this close to going to the finals.

I'm beginning to think the Flyers might need to give up a pick to get rid of Meszaros. Carolina had to give up Alt to get rid of Boucher last year and his cap hit is a fraction of Meszaros's. I hope I'm wrong.
- phillydentist

You may very well be right.

I'm beginning to think the Flyers might need to give up a pick to get rid of Meszaros. Carolina had to give up Alt to get rid of Boucher last year and his cap hit is a fraction of Meszaros's. I hope I'm wrong.
- phillydentist

That is a very possible scenario.

You may very well be right.
- johndewar

youmightberight

You must never have watched Lindros play in his prime. The only thing OV does better than Lindros is skate faster. In every other skill area Lindros is equal (and in most cases better) than OV. And in the non-skill aspects of the game Lindros is the clear winner. He hit more, and hit harder than OV ever will, and absolutely nobody wanted to fight him. Nobody is worried about fighting OV.

OV is a great player - not saying he isn't. But he's not as good as Lindros was, nor as complete a player.

Lindros in his prime >>>> OV in his prime.
- BringBack25

Eric's passing and face off skills were remarkable.

OV can do neither of those things as well as Eric did.

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
- JAKEw1234

I bet he will be the best forward taken in this draft.

Lindros got robbed.


Surprised to see Straka so low, I guess I over hyped him in my own mind.

Can Cousins play in the AHL next year?
- coffee junkie

Yes, Cousins will be with the Phantoms this season.

Yes I do.

I also believe the Leafs were this close to going to the finals.
- mayorofangrytown

Losing first round isn't very close to going to the finals.

I wanna see #88 hanging in the rafters of the Wells Fargo Center soon
- broadstreet11

I would make the drive to Philly for that game

Eric's passing and face off skills were remarkable.

OV can do neither of those things as well as Eric did.
- johndewar

It's not like if Ovechkin was knocked out of hockey next season he's making it into the HHoF automatically. Comparing the two of them is fairly meaningless. Like arguing over whether listed sizes are accurate.

Losing first round isn't very close to going to the finals.
- broadstreet11

It's not like if Ovechkin was knocked out of hockey next season he's making it into the HHoF automatically. Comparing the two of them is fairly meaningless. Like arguing over whether listed sizes are accurate.
- mayorofangrytown

I thought that was what the measuring stick was for?

Losing first round isn't very close to going to the finals.
- broadstreet11

I do think the Leafs are a very real threat in the Conference again, however. Their days of missing the playoffs are over, I think.

Eric's passing and face off skills were remarkable.

OV can do neither of those things as well as Eric did.
- johndewar

But what about the fact that Ovi can play both LW and RW at an All-Star level?

I wanna see #88 hanging in the rafters of the Wells Fargo Center soon
- broadstreet11

What are the Flyers plans with the cap? Any idea who they are going to get rid of?
- RickJames77

Would the bruins be interested in someone like Meszaros over resigning Redden?

Well why don't you get out the calculator and crunch the numbers and let us know what the off season cap looks like as of now? And give us the facts.
- MJL

I thought you were "The Cap Man".

*starts humming Scat man....

I thought that was what the measuring stick was for?
- FlyersGrace

Either that, or to beat the usual dead horses.

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"!!
- iScoop

Thanks, Scoop!

Now I loved Keith Jones when he played in Philly, but Lindros made him look like an All-Star...In the 98-99 season Jonesy had career numbers in PTS and Assissts and his tied for his second highest goals total...18-31-49 in 66 games...

I remember watching the games and can't count how many times the announcers would say that Lindros could play with two trash cans on the wings and still outscore most of the league...

But what about the fact that Ovi can play both LW and RW at an All-Star level?
- djamon

Well played, sir.

I thought that was what the measuring stick was for?
- FlyersGrace

i have no direct knowledge of this, but it's been widely reported that Lindros has a great measuring stick....