Goodbye to an Enemy

Eric Lindros announced his retirement today. It was a quiet end to the controversial career of a star who didn't quite live up to his fullest potential. Lindros' NHL career was controversial from the very beginning. Labeled as the "Next One", he was drafted No. 1 overall by the Quebec Nordiques in 1991. Lindros, however, refused to play for Quebec and forced a blockbuster trade to the Philadelphia Flyers. Quebec received money and a group of players, including a guy named Peter Forsberg, that they would use to win two Stanley Cups as the Colorado Avalanche. For most of the 90s, Lindros was a dominating force in Philadelphia, showing the hockey world a rare mix of size, power, and skill. It was there that I learned to hate him as he would be a constant thorn to the Penguins' side. He would win an MVP award and take the Flyers to a Cup final. But that would be as high as his career would go. Through a series of concussions (which the Penguins played a part in) and a strained relationship with the Flyers organization, Lindros made his exit from Philadelphia. He would spend the latter part of his career with the New York Rangers, the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Dallas Stars but he never found the same level of success he had in Philadelphia. Tormented by injuries and decreased production, the former phenom has called it a career. He'll be helping his fellow players now as a representative in the NHLPA.

Without a doubt, I absolutely hated Lindros as a Flyer. However, I can't help but to feel sorry for him. He was a great adversary. You had to respect him. I remember when Mario Lemieux retired in 1997 and bascially handed the torch to Lindros. Ironic that Lemieux would return years later and Lindros would fade away. Sidney Crosby now carries the torch and the mantle of the "Next One." Let's hope Sid's career is able to live up to his potential.