Eric Lindros

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Lindros's path to the Rangers began with a dramatic refusal to play for the Quebec Nordiques, citing the behavior of owner Marcel Aubut. In one infamous meeting, Aubut made a rude comment about Lindros's mother, Bonnie, unaware she was bilingual. This standoff led to a trade dispute resolved by arbitrator Larry Bertuzzi in favor of Philadelphia in June 1992. In August 2001, he was finally traded to the New York Rangers. His arrival marked a new chapter for a player who had already led Canada to gold at the World Juniors and silver at the 1992 Winter Olympics.

In Their Own Story

The trade that brought Lindros to New York in August 2001 ended a long saga of disputes and injuries. By this time, he had already suffered multiple concussions, including one in December 1998 and another from Darius Kasparaitis in 1998 that sidelined him for 18 games. His physical dominance was legendary; during his junior career with the Oshawa Generals, he scored 216 points in just 95 games and led them to a Memorial Cup victory in 1990. In New York, he continued to play with an imposing strength, though his time there was short-lived before signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs for the 2005–06 season. The Rangers retired his number 88 later in 2018, cementing his place in franchise history despite a tenure that lasted only a few seasons.

Reader's Guide

Fans of Eric Lindros should know he was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in 2017. His international resume is equally impressive: he represented Canada at three Winter Olympics (1992, 1998, 2002), winning silver in 1992 and gold in 2002. At the World Junior Championships, he held the all-time points record with 31 until Connor Bedard surpassed him in 2023. Lindros also led Canada's senior team in scoring at the 1993 World Championships. His Hall of Fame induction came in 2016, and he was named to the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame that same year. Despite his physical toll, including a collapsed lung discovered by teammate Keith Jones in 1999, Lindros averaged more than a point per game throughout his NHL career.

Did You Know?

• Lindros refused to play for the Quebec Nordiques solely because of owner Marcel Aubut's behavior, not language or culture.
• He held Canada's all-time points record at the World Junior Championships with 31 points until Connor Bedard broke it in 2023.
• In April 1999, teammate Keith Jones found Lindros lying pale and cold in a hotel bathtub; he had suffered a collapsed lung from internal bleeding.
• Lindros led the Oshawa Generals to a Memorial Cup victory in 1990 during his junior career.
• The arbitrator who ruled in favor of Philadelphia in the 1992 trade dispute was Larry Bertuzzi, who determined the Flyers reached an agreement 80 minutes before the Rangers.