Lindros Still a Flyer

The Detroit Red Wings appear to be no longer interested in trading for disgruntled Flyers forward Eric Lindros.

"It`s highly unlikely he`s going to be a Red Wing," general manager Ken Holland told the Detroit News on Saturday. "I don`t know if I`m interested in Eric Lindros. I haven`t said yes or no (on whether he`s interested). There`s a lot to it. I don`t know if anything is any different." Holland told the newspaper that reports of a trade being close Friday were untrue. "It`s been blown completely out of proportion," Holland said.

Holland met with Lindros and his father, Carl Lindros, who also is the player`s agent. Holland also has spoken with Flyers general manager Bob Clarke.

"We have had exploratory talks, but nothing beyond that," Holland said before Saturday`s draft.

Lindros, 28, hasn`t played in 13 months. He had the sixth concussion of his career when he received a check from New Jersey`s Scott Stevens in Game 7 of the 2000 Eastern Conference Finals.

Lindros scored 290 goals and made 369 assists in 486 games over eight seasons with the Flyers.

He turned down a $8.5 million qualifying offer from Philadelphia last summer.

After he was cleared to skate in November, Lindros said the Toronto Maple Leafs were the only team he was interesting in playing for.

Later, Lindros said he would play for the Maple Leafs, the Red Wings, the St. Louis Blues or the Washington Capitals. The Blues flew Lindros to St. Louis on the eve of the NHL`s trade deadline in March, but ended up trading with Phoenix for Keith Tkachuk.

Clarke said Thursday the Maple Leafs were out of the running for Lindros. Clark wants to deal Lindros before July 1, when the NHL`s free agency period begins.

The Red Wings plan to be active in free agency.

"The easiest way to improve our club is free agency, that`s our plan" Red Wings executive vice president Jim Devellano said.

Phoenix center Jeremy Roenick – who has said he will not return to the Coyotes – said he wants to play for Dallas, Los Angeles, the Flyers or the Red Wings.

Detroit wants to re-sign Martin Lapointe, who is a unrestricted free agent, but understands the right wing may receive lucrative offers from other teams. Lapointe had career-highs in goals (27) and points (27) last season.

Detroit had 111 points, the second most in the NHL, last year. The Red Wings, the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference playoffs, lost to Los Angeles in the first round. They have not advanced past the second round since winning consecutive Stanley Cups in 1997 and 1998.

The Flyers had 100 points and were a No. 4 seed in Eastern Conference playoffs last season. Philadelphia lost in the first round to Buffalo, which marked the third time in four years that it lost in the opening round of the playoffs.

(ESPN.com News Services. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. )

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Author: 6 ABC - Action News (AP)