Does Eric Lindros belong in the HHOF?

On your first point - Scott Stevens actually described Eric Lindros as the one player in the league he could not handle physically. Oh, and Lindros was a 19-year-old rookie at the time.

On your second point - who cares? All that means is that Lindros was a force from day 1 and had he not been slowed by brain injuries, the gap in their numbers would have been massive. And I'm as big a Neely fan as there is.

 

Neely's case is undermined by the relatively useless time he played in Vancouver.

 

I'm gonna leave the last word to Mike Brophy of The Hockey News:

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/10827-Double-OT-Lindros-belongs-in-the-Hall-of-Fame.html

With 865 points in 760 career games, Lindros retires ranked 17th in all-time points per game at 1.14. When you consider he managed just 133 points in his final four injury-plagued years with the Rangers, Maple Leafs and Stars, his ranking could have been higher had he elected to not continue playing.

 

No.

 

Why not?

 

Leaving Lindros out because didn't live up to how hyped he was coming into the league would be wrong. Course I'm biased. Look at my side sig!

 

Let's look at Lindros' resume:

Was on the 1991 Canada Cup winning team.

Won an OHL Championship and a Memorial Cup.

Won a NHL MVP.

In 760 NHL games, he compiled 372 goals, 493 assists, 865 points and 1,398 penalty minutes.

 

Wasn't he on a medal-winning Olympic team too? More of a bit player than the year they were 4th, obviously.

 

Clarke named him Captain of the 1998 Nagano team that finished without medaling.

 

I think he played on the 2002 team as well. He was on one after the Nagano debacle.

 

You are correct.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/olympics/2002/stats/BC-OLY-STAT-M-MENCAN-R/

It's the Hockey Hall Of Fame, not the NHL Hall of Fame. I think Lindros' international and junior hockey success has to be factored in when discussing his candidacy. Also, his contributions to the NHLPA need to be heavily considered.

 

That's funny.

Completely untrue. But funny.