Just in case you guys forget....

but he was self-serving and self-congratulatory to a fault?.... my ass.
- youarewrong

He (and his parents) repeatedly put 88 before the team and before the game of hockey.

A selfless, team-oriented leader wouldn't refuse to report to both teams that drafted him (junior and NHL), sit out entire seasons to try to force trades (Quebec and Philly), air grievances and dirty laundry through the media, and then sneak out the back door of the Joe leaving his teammates to pick up the pieces after a Cup Finals loss where the coach accused the team of choking and 88 came up famously small. He was notoriously aloof, both toward fans, teammates and officials.

Only a person who is completely drunk on his own greatness and completely self-involved would act this way.

Hartnell in a walking boot.

More Rosehill baby!

Hartnell in a walking boot.

More Rosehill baby!
- PLindbergh31

He's listed as day to day with a lower body injury. It's the first time this season I believe the injury report.

He (and his parents) repeatedly put 88 before the team and before the game of hockey.

A selfless, team-oriented leader wouldn't refuse to report to both teams that drafted him (junior and NHL), sit out entire seasons to try to force trades (Quebec and Philly), air grievances and dirty laundry through the media, and then sneak out the back door of the Joe leaving his teammates to pick up the pieces after a Cup Finals loss where the coach accused the team of choking and 88 came up famously small. He was notoriously aloof, both toward fans, teammates and officials.

Only a person who is completely drunk on his own greatness and completely self-involved would act this way.
- Tomahawk

0_0

I have a friend who was telling me ab out a WIP caller who kept calling saying Voracek as if it were pronounced Vorassic (almost rhymes with Jurassic). Terrible.
- BulliesPhan87

Haha. Cringe worthy Delaware Valley and South Jersey residents!

That was my whole problem with the Downie move in the first place thinking that he was a different person then the first time....definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result
- nonpoint22

Yeah, except he came in, played well and helped to turn things around. He hasn't taken a lot of dumb penalties, he hasn't been a liability through other stupid acts and until he got hurt he was playing a key role.

I think his poor play since he came back is due to a lingering injury, but honestly, he's been the complete opposite of what he was prior to being traded out of Philly to Tampa Bay

So i'm rooting for the Pens tonight. How (frank)ed up is that

So i'm rooting for the Pens tonight. How (frank)ed up is that
- PhillySportsGuy

its pretty (frank)ed

I think the debate of Lindros v. Crosby is really interesting. I do.

But I say this without hesitation or reservation: The only human being I ever saw dominate a hockey game more than an enraged Eric Lindros was an in-his-prime Mario Lemieux.

The only other players who were close were an at-his-peak Chris Pronger and an at-his-peak Peter Forsberg.

One thing that surprises me is the debate over Lindros' skill level. That dude was one of the most accurate -- and hard -- shooters that league has ever seen; slap shot, backhand, wrist shot, one-timer.

Eric Lindros...wow.
- AllInForFlyers

when i say crosby has more pure skill, it is no slight against lindros. he was incredible. he is the first hockey player i can remember just being in awe of. mario and gretz were both fading by the time i was old enough to truly appreciate it. but in terms of pure skill, i would take crosby. at least in some of them. skill is a funny word to define though. pure heavy shot, im sure lindros has him. id argue on the backhand ability though. crosbys ability to use the backhand to score is definitely great (though once again not as hard) but his ability to pass on the backhand is almost silly.

lindros was by far the superior athlete. the thing that makes crosby the best to me is that he isnt blessed with the physical gifts as a lot of guys. its his effort, intelligence, drive, and skill on a lot of the smaller things. i know its not exactly the most highlight reel level stuff, but his ability to play the puck in/with his skates is without equal in the league. no it wont bowl people over, but the sheer amount of plays it keeps alive throughout a game add up

He (and his parents) repeatedly put 88 before the team and before the game of hockey.

A selfless, team-oriented leader wouldn't refuse to report to both teams that drafted him (junior and NHL), sit out entire seasons to try to force trades (Quebec and Philly), air grievances and dirty laundry through the media, and then sneak out the back door of the Joe leaving his teammates to pick up the pieces after a Cup Finals loss where the coach accused the team of choking and 88 came up famously small. He was notoriously aloof, both toward fans, teammates and officials.

Only a person who is completely drunk on his own greatness and completely self-involved would act this way.
- Tomahawk

i dont hold this completely against lindros. there is always more to a story than people hear. that being said, i would take crosby as a leader in the lockerroom over him as well.

i dont hold this completely against lindros. there is always more to a story than people hear. that being said, i would take crosby as a leader in the lockerroom over him as well.
- stayinthefnnet

Paul Stewart's recent blog about his very first run in with 19-year-old 88... he said hi to the kid, asked him how his parents were, and 88 said "(frank) you, just drop the (frank)ing puck". There's a reason that guy isn't in the HHOF, besides longevity... it's because people need to vote him in, and that player and his family burned a lot of bridges on their way through the NHL.

Just in case you guys forget....

but he was self-serving and self-congratulatory to a fault?.... my ass.
- youarewrong

Have to admit, if I was a little more sentimental...watching that might've made me check my eyes for a little dust.

#LegionOfDoomForever
#RememberTheGoodOldDays
#ItsBasicallyAChokingSituation

Paul Stewart's recent blog about his very first run in with 19-year-old 88... he said hi to the kid, asked him how his parents were, and 88 said "(frank) you, just drop the (frank)ing puck". There's a reason that guy isn't in the HHOF, besides longevity... it's because people need to vote him in, and that player and his family burned a lot of bridges on their way through the NHL.
- Tomahawk

Did he and his family burn bridges? Sure. No disputing that.

But at the same time...he was a kid when he came to Philadelphia. And he was counted on to deliver something that no one player could bring.

And he did his best. He cared about winning, before All That Is Philadelphia Sports consumed everything around him.

He was just a kid, made the captain before his time, demanded to win a Stanley Cup with weak goaltending and maybe slightly above-average defensemen, at best.

I don't fault him for how it went. Philadelphia...I don't know if there's a worse place to play if you're a star athlete who people think SHOULD be winning.

Fraude Giroux, anyone?

Hartnell in a walking boot.

More Rosehill baby!
- PLindbergh31

Or McGinn gets another call up, since he can play the same type of role as Hartnell. Shame since Hartnell and that line have been playing well.

More to the Crosby Lindros debate. Think about Ovechkin and Crosby. Sure Crosby wins that, but imagine ovechkin a bit bigger, 10 lbs heavier and that can pass like Crosby and drives the net much more. That was Eric Lindros.

More to the Crosby Lindros debate. Think about Ovechkin and Crosby. Sure Crosby wins that, but imagine ovechkin a bit bigger, 10 lbs heavier and that can pass like Crosby and drives the net much more. That was Eric Lindros.
- youarewrong

Lindros was a beast no other way about it. Whether you like him as a person doesn't matter he could play and completely dominate a game.

88> 87......its simple mathematics

Or McGinn gets another call up, since he can play the same type of role as Hartnell. Shame since Hartnell and that line have been playing well.
- LJF

Sure would be nice to get bunny back on the second line.
Raffl-giroux-voracek
Schenn-lecavalier-simmonds
Downie-couturier-read
Hall-vandevelde-rosehill.

One more thing about Lindros: The wrath he could unleash when he dropped the gloves....DAMN.

Anybody remember the beating he gave Igor Ulanov back in the day, when the Flyers were getting closed out against Tampa Bay in, what...1996, maybe?

Big E had had about enough of Ulanov low-bridging him and exacted Divine Retribution. Just opened a can of whoop-ass that was staggering to watch.

Lindros...that dude was just...not like other hockey players.
- AllInForFlyers

There's one game he had that stands out to me as the most physically and skillfully dominant performance I think I've ever seen...it was March 18th 1995 against the Panthers, in Florida, Eric had the flu...it was a tight game.. Renberg opened the scoring on the PP (@ 8:27 PP - from Lindros & LeClair) in the first period...12 minutes into the game Lindros got a 2min and 10 min for mixing it up (can't recall exact details), and the Cats answered back on the ensuing PP, tying it up...you could tell Lindros was pissed couldn't wait to get back out there...you could see it in his eyes, he had that intense "I'm going to phuck $hit up" look he would sometimes get...indeed he came out in the second period like an uncaged beast...he was nailing Panthers left and right and about 7 mins into the period he scored two goals within a couple of minutes of each other...giving the Flyers 3-1 advantage...he was taking over the game, it seemed...but the Panthers wouldn't go quietly...they quickly got a PP and scored to bring it to 3-2 which is how the 2nd ended...in the middle of a hard hitting, defensive oriented 3rd, the Panthers managed to score the only goal and tie it up at 3-3 and we go to overtime!

A couple minutes into OT...The Flyers get possession and take the zone, soon Eric is streaking down the high slot and received a pass (from LeClair) destined for his skates...he sees it, angles his skate into the puck and chips perfectly up into the air in front of him, he quickly flicks it with his stick, in mid-air, putting it into the top shelf for a game winning hat-trick goal (disclaimer: Although I'm pretty sure it was the OT goal that was scored in this manner, it may have been one if his previous goals, but either way, Lindros capped off an incredible, 4 point night with the GW hat-trick goal)...

There was another scoring play, where he basically ran over a Panther or two behind their own net, smashing them off the puck like a bull in china shop before either scoring or dishing for a score...it looked like he was playing against Midgets.

I recall in the post-game interview the guys (Dorny and Gene Hart?) were beside themselves in awe and excitement...they talked about the game and his performance and how he had the flu...toward the end they said something weird..."Win flu"..eventually Lindros was like (half joking) "hey c'mon guys let's finish up and get on the plane!" I used to have the game recorded on VHS but that tape is toast. A few years back I tried to buy it from the Flyers archive but they said they didn't have recordings of many of the road games, including that one...


Lindros' Line from the game:

3G 1A +2 12 PIM 7 SHOTS

88> 87......its simple mathematics
- KINGKENZO

Haha, well played sir.

Paul Stewart's recent blog about his very first run in with 19-year-old 88... he said hi to the kid, asked him how his parents were, and 88 said "(frank) you, just drop the (frank)ing puck". There's a reason that guy isn't in the HHOF, besides longevity... it's because people need to vote him in, and that player and his family burned a lot of bridges on their way through the NHL.
- Tomahawk

First of all, from reading that blog, seems like Stewart was a wise a$$ and got too familiar...most people, including Stewie, knew his parents were his managers and there was controversy with how they handled things...to ask Lindros about his parents without knowing the kid seems a bit provocative, no? To Stewart's credit he did say in that blog:

"Lindros was apparently in a bad mood because he'd recently missed 12 games with a knee injury, the team was in a losing skid and he'd had a tough game in New Jersey. This game was also played about a week after Lindros had to go to court in Toronto after the Koo Koo Bananas incident...."


While there are always the stories you hear, I've seen/heard many cases where Lindros has been gracious with fans (including a favor he did for my mom on my behalf) and humble in the media.

Haha, well played sir.
- Tomahawk

Good night everybody

*exits on a highnote, ala George Costanza*

Yeah, except he came in, played well and helped to turn things around. He hasn't taken a lot of dumb penalties, he hasn't been a liability through other stupid acts and until he got hurt he was playing a key role.

I think his poor play since he came back is due to a lingering injury, but honestly, he's been the complete opposite of what he was prior to being traded out of Philly to Tampa Bay
- Jsaquella

This...to be clear, his attitude (on the ice) has been the opposite...and he's certainly toned down his hitting/agitation/pest game a lot, but his game is still his game, grit, digging out pucks, handling and making plays,....

I think he just doesn't look right and can probably use the rest...what I want to see is him come back when he's 100% and be put into position to perform...he's not a 4th liner...get him back with Read and Coots.



Raffle G Jake
Harts Schenn Simmer
Read Coots Downie

What to do w Vinny?

Call me crazy, but
Straka Vinny Akeson/McGinn

Do the Flyers really need a "traditional" fourth line? I don't see that it's a necessity to put scrubs out there for a few minutes...call up some skilled guys and roll four skilled lines...could they really do worse than what they're going with now?

More to the Crosby Lindros debate. Think about Ovechkin and Crosby. Sure Crosby wins that, but imagine ovechkin a bit bigger, 10 lbs heavier and that can pass like Crosby and drives the net much more. That was Eric Lindros.
- youarewrong

The catch is that hockey's not an individual sport... if you pit Crosby against OV 1-vs-1, of course, OV would overpower him. Crosby vs Lindros 1-v-1 would be even more unevenly matched. Lemieux might not even be able to take Lindros 1-v-1.

But hockey's played 6-vs-6... it's just as important for a great player to be able to make his teammates better, to instill greatness in them in addition to reaching for it himself. Orr, Gretzky, Lemieux, Bourque, Pronger, Beliveau, Sakic, Lidstrom, Messier, Yzerman... they all did that, and their trophy cases are testaments to their ability to lead and inspire.

88 was a lot like OV... he could do incredible things on his own... but guys like Crosby, Toews, Francis, Clarke and even Brind'Amour... who engender the respect and unflinching support of their teammates will always be able to achieve greater feats, because in hockey team always trumps the individual. Therefore, those players will always be more valuable, they'll always be greater.

The catch is that hockey's not an individual sport... if you pit Crosby against OV 1-vs-1, of course, OV would overpower him. Crosby vs Lindros 1-v-1 would be even more unevenly matched. Lemieux might not even be able to take Lindros 1-v-1.

But hockey's played 6-vs-6... it's just as important for a great player to be able to make his teammates better, to instill greatness in them in addition to reaching for it himself. Orr, Gretzky, Lemieux, Bourque, Pronger, Beliveau, Sakic, Lidstrom, Messier, Yzerman... they all did that, and their trophy cases are testaments to their ability to lead and inspire.

88 was a lot like OV... he could do incredible things on his own... but guys like Crosby, Toews, Francis and even Brind'Amour... who engender the respect and unflinching support of their teammates will always be able to achieve greater feats, because in hockey team always trumps the individual. Therefore, those players will always be more valuable, always be greater.
- Tomahawk

That sounds nice and all, but I'm sure there were some "wieners" who got respect and won big...I'm sure there's a few players and other people who will tell you that Pronger isn't exactly a saint, but he's respected and revered for what he can do on the ice/in the locker-room.

I never got the sense that Eric's teammates resented him or that the team wasn't able to play as well because he was who he was....I think if anything he made them (his teammates) better and they were more than willing to let him lead them into battle. Say what you want about his off ice dealings and such, but there was no doubt that the guy's desire, effort and ability to win on the ice and the efforts he put into that were genuine and at a high level...that engenders a certain type of respect.