Eric Lindros

Someday, Eric Lindros might look back at Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals as the day he crossed the line separating promising from proven, wannabe from winner. The Philadelphia Flyers were seconds from a 5-3 victory over the New York Rangers, who had pulled goalie Mike Richter. Lindros was racing for the puck with Ranger center Mark Messier, his childhood idol. Using his speed and strength, Lindros barged past Messier and scored into the open net, completing his first playoff hat trick.

No-so-fabulous fives Not all high school phenoms and first-round draft picks achieve greatness on the big stage. The journey from rising star to superstar can be long and fraught with peril. Staff writer David Wharton looks at five examples in four major sports: Basketball LaRue Martin (1972-76): The top pick of the 1972 draft, Martin lasted four seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, averaging 5.3 points a game. Sam Bowie (1984-95): Another Trail Blazers first-rounder had a decent career — but Portland could have picked Michael Jordan.

Nothing he had ever done affected Eric Lindros as deeply as winning the NHL's most-valuable-player award last June. The plaques he collected in junior hockey, the silver medal he took home from Albertville as a member of the 1992 Canadian Olympic team, the all-rookie-team certificate--they were dust-catchers. Nice, but inconsequential.

LONDON, Canada -- Former NHL most valuable player Eric Lindros retired Thursday in his hometown, ending a career derailed by a series of concussions and other injuries. The 6-foot-4, 240-pound forward had 372 goals, 865 points and 1,398 penalty minutes in 760 games for Philadelphia, Toronto, the New York Rangers and Dallas. He won the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 1995 and was part of the Canadian Olympic team that won gold in 2002. He also won silver for Canada in 1992.

Eric Lindros will be sidelined for three weeks after aggravation of an injury to his left knee, the Philadelphia Flyers said. In 29 games for the Flyers, Lindros has 21 goals and 16 assists.

Eric Lindros set up the eventual winning goal by Dave Archibald and the Canadian National Team defeated the United States, 5-3, at Albany, N.Y.

The Philadelphia Flyers' Eric Lindros, 19, will stand trial today in Oshawa, about 45 miles east of Toronto, for an alleged barroom assault on a 24-year-old Lynn Nunney at a sports bar in nearby Whitby.

A couple of hours before the game, clad in T-shirt, shorts and sneakers, Eric Lindros grabs a baseball glove and heads into a chilly, barren hallway beneath Philips Arena for a little catch. But this is merely a diversion. For as long as Lindros can remember, he wanted to play hockey for one of the NHL's most storied franchises. He wanted to don that fabled blue sweater with Canada's national icon plastered across the front.

The New York Rangers have a lot more to worry about than a loss to the Washington Capitals. Eric Lindros was sidelined by another concussion Wednesday night, and Washington held on for a 2-1 win at New York thanks to Olaf Kolzig's 32 saves. "He's a big player to be out of the lineup," Ranger captain Mark Messier said. "He's an important part of our team."

Eric Lindros is still affecting the Philadelphia Flyers' game plan, three seasons after the former captain was traded to the New York Rangers. This time he did it by not playing. Lindros, sick with flu, was sent home just before the puck dropped Thursday night. Without having to face him, the Flyers switched their lines and beat the Rangers, 4-2, at New York. Keith Primeau was slated to center a checking line with Sami Kapanen and Donald Brashear to face Lindros.

KINGS: 3 GAMES Tonight vs. New York Rangers, 7:30, Fox Sports Net -- Eric Lindros has been playing with ham-handed wingers Matthew Barnaby and Chris Simon. That they have formed an effective line and are three of the Rangers' best scorers says a good deal about the state of the NHL in 2003-04. Of course, given Lindros' history of concussions, perhaps he's lucky to be playing at all. Wednesday at Phoenix, 6 p.m. -- If the first three games between the teams are any guide, the fourth one won't be dull.

Eric Lindros has a sprain in the area where the left shoulder and collarbone meet the chest and will be out two to four weeks, the New York Rangers said Tuesday. Lindros was injured in the Rangers' 3-1 victory over Florida on Monday and left Madison Square Garden without speaking to reporters. He was unavailable for comment Tuesday. Ranger Coach and General Manager Glen Sather wasn't sure when Lindros was injured, except he knew the center played after the injury.

Eric Lindros finally had a healthy offseason. But this summer presented a different kind of challenge for No. 88, who joined his teammates for physicals at the start of his third Rangers training camp. At 30, Lindros did not face an offseason filled with doubts about ever playing again because of his physical condition. In some ways, this was worse -- people questioned his ability after a 19-goal, 53-point season of frustration in 2002-03.

Eric Lindros gave the Philadelphia Flyers yet another reason not to like him. Lindros scored three goals against his former team, and the New York Rangers turned in a rare physical performance, holding on for a 6-5 victory over the Flyers on Saturday at Madison Square Garden. "We got into the physical game, taking the body and digging for pucks," Lindros said. "We've got to play like that more often, then we'll be in good shape."

It was a difficult day all around for the New York Rangers. Sean Brown had the first two-goal game of his career and the Edmonton Oilers, boosted by Ryan Smyth's surprise return from injury, defeated the Rangers, 4-1, Wednesday night. While the Oilers celebrated Smyth's return, the Rangers played without Eric Lindros, who was put on injured reserve by the club after being examined by a neurologist.