As a New Jersey Devils hockey fan and now blogger (what's this world coming to!), I'll admit- it's sad to see Eric Lindros retire.  What's more tragic were his (minimum of) eight concussions suffered during his illustrious, yet injury-plagued 13-year pro-career.

Lindros was described as the Sidney Crosby of his day, Wayne Gretzky with size.  He was listed as 6-foot-4 240 pounds, nearly outsizing every skater on the ice during his playing days.

A career that included stops in Philadelphia, then to New York (Rangers), north of the border (Toronto), and finally to a western conference team in Dallas, Lindros was nothing short of spectacular.  If not for those damn injuries, Lindros could have added to his 372 career goals and 493 assists in 760 regular season games played.  Let's just throw in another 57 points in 53 career playoff appearances for shits and giggles.

Now that Lindros retired "on his own terms," the debate begins to unfold, "Should Eric Lindros be inducted into the NHL’s Hall of Fame alongside Gordie Howe and Wayne Gretzky?"  Should Lindros be judged for his successful performances on and off the ice and by his potential or by only reaching 865 total points in the regular season?  These are some of the many questions that the Hockey Hall of Fame Selection Committee must consider concerning Big E, who will reach eligibility five years from now.

“I NOW Consider Eric Lindros A Hall of Famer,” the Puckstopshere site owner said, on his blog, after Lindros passed his hall-of-fame worthy standards.  Scott Morrison published an article in the London Free Press regarding Lindros’ career, comparing it to that of Boston Bruins winger Cam Neely.

“Cam Neely, whose career lacked the conflict of Lindros's but was similarly interrupted and shortened by injuries. Neely, inducted into the Hall in 2005, finished with 395 goals and 694 points in 726 games. He played 13 seasons, Lindros 14 (though he missed one entirely due to injury). Few argued about whether Neely belonged.”

The Toronto Star headlined its Lindros feature, “Lindros to retire after tumultuous career.”

“Lindros entered the league – or rather didn't enter it – amid controversy when he refused to go to Quebec after the Nordiques picked him No.1 in the 1991 entry draft.  He would be a lightning rod for much of his career, his time in Philadelphia ending in much recrimination between the Lindros family and Flyers GM Bob Clarke.”

Michael Farber of SI.com and ESPN.com’s Scott Burnside offer their thoughts on a player once deemed the next Gretzky.

Or, if you prefer, Ryan Boulton of the Prince Albert Daily Herald, expresses his feelings for Lindros, who will definitely not be missed for controversy, but for his numbers on the ice.

“He might never have materialized completely into "The Next One," but he certainly left his mark,” Boulton said.  “So, does the Big E belong?  Without a doubt, it says here.”

Lastly, as a Devils fan, I must return to game seven of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Devils and Flyers.  The memory of seeing Scott Stevens’ punishing open-ice (clean yet debatable by Flyers fans) hit that left Lindros laying on all-fours.  A body check that left Lindros seeing stars, unable to move, unable to function, one that Stevens admitted later was unintentional yet vicious that he could sleep at night.

Although he returned to hockey the following season with much success may I add, (73 points in 72 games) Lindros eventually sustained another concussion while playing with the Rangers.  Eventually, injuries including a torn ligament (wrist) forced Big E to miss more than half of the post-lockout 2005-2006 season.

On Nov. 8^th, Eric Lindros officially announced his retirement from the game of hockey in his hometown.

"My decision to retire from professional hockey is something that I have been considering for some time, and did not come easily," Lindros said in the retirement press conference. "I will miss the day-to-day activity of being a member of a team, and the camaraderie that I developed with my teammates will never be forgotten.

"I played with the best, I played against the best — it was a blast. It really truly was," he said. "I enjoyed myself immensely."

CanWest News Service’s Dave Gross referred to Lindros as to being anointed as Gretzky before stepping onto NHL ice, but later deemed his career as “Mr. What-Could-Have-Been” due to injuries and concussions.

Mike Brophy, a member of The Hockey News staff writers, helpedy convinced us to select Lindros to the Hall of Fame.

"I have listened to the criticism Lindros has faced over the years – that he was too influenced by meddling parents and that he never won the Stanley Cup – but when I think of Lindros as a player, I think of a powerful game-breaker who was unquestionably one of the most dominant individuals to ever skate in the NHL. I think of a bodychecker who caused opponents to toss and turn all night before they had to play against him."

If Brophy isn't convincing enough, James Mirtle did his part.

"Of all the players — other than Lindros — to win the Hart Trophy between 1953-54 and 2001-02, after Al Rollins and before Jose Theodore, every last one is already, or will be, in the Hall of Fame... No questions asked."

"Put him in the Hall," Mirtle said.

One thing I know is factual among the various controversial issues in Lindros’ life is his most donation of $5 million to the London Health Sciences Centre, before announcing retirement.

To me, that is the icing on the cake for a player who might have excelled to a Gretzky-esque plateau with his skills.  But, for whatever reason, it was not meant to be.

The Hall of Fame, however, is meant to be for Eric Lindros.

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