Color Lindros Blue?

Lindros has been seeking a trade from the Philadelphia Flyers since rejecting an $8.5 million qualifying offer last summer. "We just had him come in and get checked out physically," said Blues general manager Larry Pleau, who flew with the team to Philadelphia on Monday afternoon for a game against the Flyers on Tuesday night.

He said he hasn`t had a chance to talk to doctors yet, but said "everything sounds fine from what I understand." He wouldn`t discuss what players the Blues might offer for Lindros.

Flyers general manager Bob Clarke would not speak to reporters, but team representatives said a deal would not be completed Monday night.

Blues spokesman Jim Woodcock said a deal for Lindros was not imminent. The trade deadline is 3 p.m. EDT Tuesday.

"You can`t draw that conclusion," Woodcock said. "We`re obviously interested in the player, therefore a physical exam is the next logical step for us to take. That`s why he`s in St. Louis today."

Lindros, who hasn`t played since sustaining his sixth concussion on May 26, refuses to play for the Flyers because of a contentious relationship with Clarke.

Since being cleared to skate in November, Lindros had insisted on only playing for his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs. But a deal with the Leafs fell through last month, and Lindros said Friday that he would consider going to another team.

After Carl Lindros, Eric`s father and agent, contacted the Blues last week, the Flyers rejected an offer from Pleau that reportedly included center Pierre Turgeon, who becomes an unrestricted free agent after this season.

Detroit and Washington are the other teams Lindros is willing to play for, but neither club has expressed interest in the former Flyers captain.

Flyers coach Bill Barber said the situation hasn`t been a distraction to his team. Despite not having Lindros the entire season and missing his former linemate John LeClair for all but eight games, Philadelphia is one point behind New Jersey for first place in the Atlantic Division.

"The good thing is we can only add, we`re not subtracting," Barber said. "If something happens, it can only add to the team. The guys will be appreciative that management put them in a better position to win the Stanley Cup."

The Blues, with injuries to MVP defenseman Chris Pronger, All-Star defenseman Al MacInnis, forward Pavol Demitra and other key players, are searching for a boost. They have the third-best record in the Western Conference, but are winless in six games since Feb. 26.

Lindros` relationship with Clarke, his childhood hero, deteriorated to a point last season where the two men didn`t speak for months.

The boiling point came after Lindros criticized the team`s medical staff for failing to diagnose his second concussion of the season on March 4.

Clarke then stripped Lindros of his captaincy, and the star was ostracized from the team until he returned for Games 6 and 7 of the Eastern Conference finals against the New Jersey Devils.

Lindros had 28 goals and 32 assists in 57 games last season, including four periods of the playoffs. He sustained four concussions in less than three months, putting his career in jeopardy.

(Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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Author: 6 ABC - Action News (AP)