Eric Lindros

Eric Bryan Lindros (born February 28, 1973) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) for the Oshawa Generals and was selected first overall in the 1991 NHL entry draft by the Quebec Nordiques. Lindros refused to play for the Nordiques, citing the owner’s behavior, and was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in June 1992 for a package that included Peter Forsberg, Steve Duchesne, Ron Hextall, Mike Ricci, Kerry Huffman, two first-round picks, and $15 million.

He began his NHL career with the Flyers in the 1992–93 season. Lindros was a dominant power forward who averaged more than a point per game, but his aggressive style led to frequent injuries, especially concussions. He won the Hart Memorial Trophy as NHL MVP and the Lester B. Pearson Award as most outstanding player in the lockout-shortened 1994–95 season. In August 2001, he was traded to the New York Rangers.

He later signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs for 2005–06 and finished his career with the Dallas Stars in 2006–07. Internationally, Lindros represented Canada at three World Junior Championships (1990, 1991, 1992), winning gold in 1990 and 1991, and was Canada’s all-time points leader at that tournament with 31 until surpassed by Connor Bedard in 2023. He also played for Canada’s senior team at the World Championships and in three Winter Olympics (1992, 1998, 2002), earning a silver in 1992 and gold in 2002.

Lindros was inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2016, the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2016, and was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in 2017. The Flyers retired his jersey number 88 in 2018.