Eric Lindros is announcing his retirement today. This begins the debate as to whether The Big E is Hall of Fame worthy. Damien Cox says he is, I say he isn't.
I was always a big Lindros fan. During a mid-90s draft of our annual playoff pool, I had quite the heated exchange with Jomp who didn't think Lindros was anything special. Lindros was special. He was big and strong but had the hands of a smaller, skilled player. He could feather a perfect pass and check an opposing player through the boards, all on the same shift. He wasn't just good, for a period in the 90s, he was the best.
Even though I loved the way he played and his insane talent level, I don't think he'll get into the Hall of Fame. Quite simply, he didn't play enough to put up the numbers that should be required. During his NHL career, he missed 438 games, including two complete seasons. He never played a full campaign, scored 100 points or more just once and didn't register a 50-goal season. He also never won a Stanley Cup, often a barometer of a successful leader.
Many will agree with me and many will agree with Cox, because you can make a case either way. At the end of the day, Lindros just didn't have the legs. He changed the game, and for a short period of time was scary good, but his 865 points in 760 games leaves him on the outside looking in.
