Eric Lindros
A colossal talent whose career was defined by a seismic trade and a collision-heavy style that left an indelible mark on hockey.
Born 1973 (age 53)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: February 28·Generation X
Biography
Eric Lindros was a force of nature from the moment he laced up his skates, a teenage prodigy whose size and skill made him the most coveted amateur player of his generation. His refusal to join the Quebec Nordiques after being drafted first overall triggered one of the most lopsided trades in NHL history, sending him to Philadelphia where he became the 'Big E,' the fearsome centerpiece of the Legion of Doom line. Lindros played with a terrifying blend of power and finesse, winning the Hart Trophy in 1995 and dragging the Flyers to the Stanley Cup Final. Yet, his narrative is also one of fragility; a series of concussions, most notoriously from Scott Stevens' open-ice hit, cut his prime devastatingly short. His career stands as a monumental 'what if,' a reminder of both breathtaking potential and the physical cost of the game's brutality.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Eric was born in 1973, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Eric Was Born
The biggest hits of 1973
#1 Movie
The Exorcist
Best Picture
The Sting
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Eric's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1973Born
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1978Started school
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1986Became a teenager
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Could drive
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1991Could vote
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Turned 21
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2003Turned 30
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 40
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 50
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 53 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player in the 1994-95 season.
- Led the Philadelphia Flyers to the 1997 Stanley Cup Final as captain.
- Was the centerpiece of the 1992 trade that sent him to Philadelphia for a package including Peter Forsberg, a deal that reshaped two franchises.
- Captured the Memorial Cup with the Oshawa Generals in 1990 and won the CHL Player of the Year award in 1991.
Did You Know?
He was the first non-goaltender to win the CHL Player of the Year award (then called the MVP).
Lindros wore number 88 in honor of his childhood friend and NHL player, Joe Sakic, who wore number 19 (8+8+1+9=26, his junior number).
He served as the ombudsman for the NHL's concussion lawsuit settlement, a role informed by his own injury history.
His brother Brett also played in the NHL, and they were teammates briefly with the New York Islanders.
“I played the game hard. I played it the way I thought it should be played.”
