Lindros Sits

Lindros, a restricted free agent who was seeking a trade away from Philadelphia, was not dealt before Tuesday afternoon`s NHL deadline. "All along we felt that we weren`t going to be able to trade Lindros and we were proven right," Flyers general manager Bob Clarke said.

Unless the Flyers and Lindros, who rejected an $8.5 million qualifying offer from the club last summer, unexpectedly end their ongoing war _ Lindros will remain on the sidelines at least until the fall.

Philadelphia was working on a deal with the Blues, and Lindros underwent a physical in St. Louis on Monday. But a trade couldn`t be worked out, and the Blues instead acquired left wing Keith Tkachuk from the Phoenix Coyotes.

The Toronto Maple Leafs, Lindros` first choice all along, and a third team that Clarke did not name also made a final attempt to acquire the 28-year-old center.

"We made a sincere effort, but when you`re limited _ he picked four teams, but only two tried for him _ and other teams know you`re limited, there was never a chance to make a deal that was beneficial for us," Clarke said.

Lindros, who hasn`t played since sustaining his sixth concussion last May 26, refuses to return to 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 Maple Leafs. But a deal with Toronto fell through three weeks ago and Lindros` attorney, Gord Kirke, said Friday that his client would consider going elsewhere.

After Carl Lindros, Eric`s father and agent, contacted St. Louis last week, the Flyers rejected an offer from Blues general manager Larry Pleau that reportedly included center Pierre Turgeon, who can become an unrestricted free agent after the season.

Lindros was willing to play for Detroit or Washington, but neither team expressed any interest in him.

"If we could`ve made a deal that would`ve helped our club, we would`ve done it," Clarke said, adding that the Flyers never considered a three-way trade "They really weren`t hard decisions. We knew (the offers) weren`t enough."

Lindros has been able to dictate where he plays throughout his career, but has little choice except to sit out this season. It`s unlikely a team would sign the center now since he`s not eligible for the playoffs and the Flyers hold matching rights.

He cannot reach unrestricted free agency until he is 31, and Clarke has stated that Lindros might have to sit out that long to get what he wants.

"We`d like to trade him, but he`s made his own bed," Clarke said. "He`s made it difficult for us to trade him."

Lindros, selected No. 1 overall by Quebec in the 1991 NHL draft, refused to sign with the Nordiques, and sat out an entire season before a controversial trade to Philadelphia for six players, two first-round draft choices and $15 million in 1992.

The New York Rangers also claimed they made a deal for Lindros before an independent arbitrator ruled Quebec`s deal with the Flyers was valid.

Lindros also refused to play for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds after being selected No. 1 in the Ontario Hockey League draft of 16-year-olds in 1989.

Lindros` career in Philadelphia has been marked by turmoil and controversy, including reports that he once left tickets for reputed Philadelphia mob boss Joseph Merlino.

His 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.

Clarke had an even bigger problem with Lindros` parents.

He accused Carl and Bonnie Lindros of constantly meddling in the team`s affairs. He said Carl has called him and insisted the team not trade for certain players for reasons ranging from the player doesn`t pass the puck enough, or Eric doesn`t like the player`s agent.

After Lindros suffered a collapsed lung on April 1, 1999, during a road game, Lindros and his family had little confidence in the team`s medical staff because the potentially life-threatening injury wasn`t diagnosed until the following day.

Lindros had 28 goals and 32 assists in 57 games last season, including four periods of the playoffs. He made six All-Star teams and won the MVP award in 1995, but the Flyers were swept by the Detroit Red Wings in their only Stanley Cup final with him.

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

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Author: 6 ABC - Action News (AP)