How Eric Lindros could have made Flyers return in 2012
When Eric Lindros appeared at Citizens Bank Park in Phildelphia for the 2012 Winter Classic alumni game, he probably didn’t imagine the game of shinny would kind of turn into a bit of a tryout.
Not long after Lindros helped the Flyers alums to a 3-1 win over vets from the New York Rangers, the ‘Big E’ received a call from then-Philadelphia GM Paul Holmgren. The call wasn’t just to say hello; it was an invitation.
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Having been retired for four seasons already, Lindros was asked by Holmgren if he was interested in joining the Flyers for the final part of the 2011-12 regular season and the playoffs.
From Chris Johnston of Sportsnet:
“Paul Holmgren called me after the outdoor game and started talking gibberish about cap space and things like that in Philadelphia,” he said. “We were playing in that baseball stadium and I think he had the worst seat in the house. He was up in the bleachers or something. I don’t know what game he was watching, but I got a call.
“And (I thought): ‘Geez are you kidding me?”’
“He looked that good at the outdoor alumni game. I thought he could help our team,” Holmgren told Frank Seravalli of TSN.
Lindros, who will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday, declined the offer. The Flyers would finish fifth in the Eastern Conference with 103 points and advanced to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs without him.
You know, when you consider how much of an issue goaltending has been in Philadelphia for years, it makes you wonder why Holmgren didn’t give Bernie Parent a call after his solid five minutes in net during that alumni game.
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Sean Leahy is the associate editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Sean_Leahy
