What the Flames (and others) apparently offered for Lindros

[Oling_Roachinen]

I think linked in the Edmonton no good thread.

[gamesaver]

Originally Posted by dino7c

I think some of you were too young during Lindros's time

Guy was the best player in the NHL by a country mile

115 points in 73 games...McDavid can't even match that with no hooking, no holding, 3 on 3 OT ect.

People saying how dominant he was in his prime are right, although I disagree with him being a way above anyone else. Jagr had 149 points in 82 games in 95-96 season. In fact I think Jagr deserves "the best power forward in the nineties" title little bit more considering all those Art Ross trophies.

[iamca]

If hindsight was crystal clear, and I was part of the decision makers for the Flames, I would have never traded either:
Al MacInnis,
Joe Nieuwendyk

I have to bury my head in the sand about the Iggy trade, but both of these players should have stayed their entire career in Calgary.

From a fans and special player standpoint, I hated to see them in Blues and Stars uniforms (respectively) after dominating in Flames silks for what seemed to be an abbreviated time.

Different era today, but I would put Gio, Monahan, Johnny, and Chucky in the forever Flames players category, if there was such a thing. Untouchable, but understand that it is a long shot.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by gamesaver

People saying how dominant he was in his prime are right, although I disagree with him being a way above anyone else. Jagr had 149 points in 82 games in 95-96 season. In fact I think Jagr deserves "the best power forward in the nineties" title little bit more considering all those Art Ross trophies.

Why would you consider Jagr a power forward? Because he was big and hard to get off the puck? So was Lemieux who could do everything Jagr could do but better. Real power forwards were the likes of Lindros, Neely, Iginla, Shanahan, Tkachuk, Tocchet, etc. Big guys that could punish opposition physically and score.

[Hockey Fan #751]

If I was the Flames, I offer Gilmour instead of Nieuwendyk since we all know what Gilmour fetched in a trade.

Imagine how things might have been different if the Flames made this deal and the Jets didn't match their Selanne offer sheet.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

It's still funny seeing how some fans think Lindros was overrated. I'm not old enough to follow 70's hockey but I don't think there's ever been a player that had Lindros combination of size, strength, skating, and skill. In a lot of ways he was more special of a player than guys like Crosby and McDavid because he had their skill level in the package of a big power forward. He wasn't Gretzky or Lemieux skilled but close and had a physical element to his game neither of those players had. Really special player and it's a shame he wasn't afforded a longer career.

I know its hard for people to believe, but Lindos was the best combination of those things the game has ever seen sans Gordie Howe and even then it's debatable.

Had he been able to play and stay healthy, no question in my mind he would have been considered the best player ever right among Gretzky, Lemeiux, Orr and Howe...and yes that includes Crosby. His skating was way above average for sure, but he had the softest hands while being able to steamroll right through guys who tried to block him physically.

I was no Lindros fan because of the whole refusal to play in Quebec thing, but without question he would have had his name all over the record books with Gretz and those already listed.

He was a perfect hockey player in many ways.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Hockey Fan #751

If I was the Flames, I offer Gilmour instead of Nieuwendyk since we all know what Gilmour fetched in a trade.

Imagine how things might have been different if the Flames made this deal and the Jets didn't match their Selanne offer sheet.

I think Gilmour was traded before Lindros was drafted and traded

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Hockey Fan #751

If I was the Flames, I offer Gilmour instead of Nieuwendyk since we all know what Gilmour fetched in a trade.

I don't think the Leafs would have approved of that.

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

It's still funny seeing how some fans think Lindros was overrated. I'm not old enough to follow 70's hockey but I don't think there's ever been a player that had Lindros combination of size, strength, skating, and skill. In a lot of ways he was more special of a player than guys like Crosby and McDavid because he had their skill level in the package of a big power forward. He wasn't Gretzky or Lemieux skilled but close and had a physical element to his game neither of those players had. Really special player and it's a shame he wasn't afforded a longer career.

Gretzky still confuses me. trying to be objective, but other than his passing, I don't think he was super skilled at any of the physical tools.
I just think his "hockey IQ" was 10 times higher than anyone else and
he could utilize the skills he had better than anyone.

but so many players I'd love to know what their careers would have been like if they didn't have their injuries/illnesses. Lindros, Lemieux, Orr, Neely, Karyia. even gretzky before his got his shot in the back in his later years.

for some reason out of all the players, I think if Orr had two good knees he likely would been the best player of all time.

[Hockey Fan #751]

Lindros was drafted in June 1991. Gilmour was traded in January 1992.

Leafs package included Berube. I think it could have been done.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by GordonBlue

Gretzky still confuses me. trying to be objective, but other than his passing, I don't think he was super skilled at any of the physical tools.
I just think his "hockey IQ" was 10 times higher than anyone else and
he could utilize the skills he had better than anyone.

but so many players I'd love to know what their careers would have been like if they didn't have their injuries/illnesses. Lindros, Lemieux, Orr, Neely, Karyia. even gretzky before his got his shot in the back in his later years.

for some reason out of all the players, I think if Orr had two good knees he likely would been the best player of all time.

I think that Gretzky and Orr revolutionized the game like no others.

But Orr did it at a time when it had been largely stagnant for a lifetime. So, I would agree with your choice.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Hockey Fan #751

Lindros was drafted in June 1991. Gilmour was traded in January 1992.

Leafs package included Berube. I think it could have been done.

Sorry that's right but he wasn't traded until June 30 1992

He held out for a year

[lazypucker]

What would teams offer the Oilers to get McJesus from the draft if he didn't want to bless the Mulletville souls? Would that be as substantial (or even more) than what was offered for Lindros?

[Matty81]

To me the Flames package is the best one by far, it seems like an overpay to me tbh... those are three all-stars at the time. MacInnis had won the Conn Smythe, Nieuwendyk is in his 4th or 5th year and has scored 45+ goals every season. Vs. the Philly package that was mostly futures and mid level guys and bums. They gambled big time there... Forsberg turns out to be a stud but at the time he's a 6th overall pick not particularly thriving in the Swedish league.



Looking back at it now it looks like 3 sure thing all-stars in their prime vs a bunch of lottery tickets (albeit with good odds).


Flames screwing up the eventual trades/financial mgmt with those players doesn't change the value.

[Johnny Makarov]

The best thing about Eli Lindros is that Philly would have most likely won a cup if they didn't trade for him.

[GreenLantern2814]

Nieuwendyk, MacInnes and Vernon for Lindros and Quebec had the stones to turn that down.

Maybe the homer in me, but a #1C, Norris D and a Cup winning goalie + for Lindros is better than what Philadelphia gave them.

[dammage79]

I had to go watch a Lindros highight package just to make sure I wasn't talking crazy.
Indeed I can confirm the man was beast incarnate even in that era. Speed, insanely accurate shot, hard wrister, bomb of a slapper, right handed, and he punished you physically. There was a fight against a Dallas Star I think it was Matvichuk where Matvichuk started the fight, got a few good shots in and the Lindros just wrecked him, like Mike Tyson kind of wrecked. He did that to everyone. Same highlight reel had him confused when he went to throw a hit on a young New York Islander named Zedeno Chara. Chara didn't move but when Chara retaliated, neither did Lindros.

For you young kids that have seen Chara be the physical bane to many players existences , Lindros was 6'5 and 230 (on the light side) in his prime, he was a faster, more skilled and equally mean version of Chara.

[Hockey Fan #751]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Nieuwendyk, MacInnes and Vernon for Lindros and Quebec had the stones to turn that down.

Maybe the homer in me, but a #1C, Norris D and a Cup winning goalie + for Lindros is better than what Philadelphia gave them.

I bet the reason the Flames got turned down is the (cash strapped) owner wanted a boatload of money. $15 million was a ton of money when you consider the team itself was eventually sold to Denver for $75 million a few years later.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by gamesaver

People saying how dominant he was in his prime are right, although I disagree with him being a way above anyone else. Jagr had 149 points in 82 games in 95-96 season. In fact I think Jagr deserves "the best power forward in the nineties" title little bit more considering all those Art Ross trophies.

Except Jagr was never a power forward. He was a powerful forward and was the best forward of the 90s in my opinion (a case could be made for Lemieux as well), but not a power forward. He was never going to be the player who would land a punishing hit, it just wasn't his game.

[Oil Stain]

Could you imagine Lindros in the league today?

He would just run completely amok.

He'd likely not suffer the concussion injuries and there's only 4-5 guys left in the entire league that are capable of standing up to him.

He would light everyone up and terrify them at the same time.