The Philadelphia Flyers announced today that they will be retiring Eric Lindros‘ number in a pre-game ceremony on January 18th. Lindros will become the sixth member to have his jersey retired by the team. His number joins the rafters where Bernie Parent, Mark Howe, Barry Ashbee, Bill Barber and Bobby Clarke have also been honored.
“Eric has made an incredible and lasting impact on the Flyers organization, our fans, and the game of hockey as a whole,” said Flyers President Paul Holmgren in a statement. “We could not be more proud to raise his number 88 to the rafters. We look forward to what is anticipated to be a historic night for the Flyers.”
We're sending #88 to the rafters.
The #Flyers will retire #88 jersey of Eric Lindros on Jan. 18: https://t.co/Prayc9rb7D https://t.co/7XVxe2boTp
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) August 28, 2017
Feeling very honoured, privileged and lucky. Thank you @NHLFlyers and to you all for your kind mssgs. Looking forward to Philly in Jan!
— Eric Lindros (@88EricLindros) August 28, 2017
Flyers Retiring Eric Lindros‘ No. 88
This is the latest honor for Lindros as he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame last fall. He was also inducted into the Flyers Hall of Fame back in 2014. In 486 games for the Flyers, Lindros notched 290 goals and 369 assists.
Lindros was acquired in a blockbuster trade with the Ouebec Nordiques during the summer of 1992. At the time, the Nordiques had also agreed to trade Lindros to the New York Rangers. It took an arbitrator a week to conclude that the Flyers would retain his rights. Steve Duchesne, Peter Forsberg, Ron Hextall, Mike Ricci and Chris Simon were exchanged in the deal. The Nordiques also received two draft picks and $15 million.
Lindros would play his first NHL game on October 6th of that next season against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He would score the first of his 41 goals in that game, a franchise record for goals by a rookie. Lindros was named the 11th captain in Flyers history two years later. He would record a 29 goal and 41 assist season, earning him the Hart Trophy.
The following season he would post 115 points in 1995-96, his best season as a Flyer. It ranks as the fourth-highest single-season total in team history. Lindros was also a part of the infamous Legion of Doom line that teams feared to play against. Alongside John LeClair and Mikael Renberg, the line combined for 121 goals and 134 assists that season, their most productive year.
He was a six-time NHL All-Star and ranks fifth all-time in points by a Flyers player. His career points-per-game average of 1.36 puts him first in franchise history. While controversy would follow Lindros later on in his Flyers career, he still remains among the best to put on a Flyers uniform.
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
