The "Next one" get's his turn

Yesterday, Eric Lindros (along with Sergei Makarov, Pat Quinn, and Rogie Vachon) were inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. It took Lindros six years of eligibility, before getting the nod.

Now many, including me, have questions about Lindros being inducted. Yes, he was totted the "Next One", and he was a physical force, who did dominate the game. (for a few years) If injuries didn't cut his career short, who knows what he could have done. However, I am still "perturbed" about his nomination, and here is why.

Arrogance and attitude : This one is a bit personal, and I am going to slip on my "homer" glasses, but the guy is an a$$hole. I met Eric Lindros back in 1991 during the World Junior Championship in Saskatoon. Canada had just won the gold medal, and I was one happy kid!!! I was hoping to get my Eric Lindros Score Hockey card signed. Not to sell it, but as a keepsake. So after the game, I waited, and waited. Other players came out to sign, and talk with us. Pat Falloon even talked to me for a few minutes. Everyone was waiting for the "Next one" to come. An hour later, and an impatient father waiting for me, and the King strolled out. Beer in hand, with a cocky smile, he walked past everyone. So I sneaked past the guard rail, and asked Lindros to please sign my card. He took a sip of his beer, scribbles some letters on my card, and the bent the corner of the card... Seriously??? Come one, you are going to do that to a young kid, a kid who looked up to you? That moment totally changed my opinion of Lindros. The arrogance that I still see in his face today.

Now putting my personal situation aside, there are other examples of his arrogance and attitude. When he was drafted 1st overall by the Soo Greyhounds in the OHL, he refused to report to the team. When he was drafted 1st overall by the Quebec Nordiques in the NHL draft, he refused to even put on the jersey. ( Ok, Mario Lemieux did the same, but he still signed with the Penguins) Maybe alot of that had to do with his father Carl, who was his agent. However, for all you hockey fans out their, can you truly state that Eric Lindros was a true ambassador of hockey?

Now let's not forget one thing. Even with his short career, Lindros did have some impressive statistics. Lindros's 865 points ranks him 120th overall in career points . He does rank 28th overall in goals per game though (0.489) and 19th in points per game (1,138) so those numbers are noteworthy. If he had stayed healthy, who know's what other type of numbers he would have put up. So statistically he deserves to be in the HHOF. However I still think there are MANY players, who should have been inducted before him

- Dave Andreychuk: (640 goal and 1338 ponts) Seriously how this guy NOT in the HHOF. 9 years of eligibility and counting.

-Theoren Fleury: 455 goals, a polarizing player (much like Lindros) so why not his time?

- Paul Kariya: 402 goals and 989. A career shortened by injuries, much like Lindros.

The HHOF committee has a history of making some controversial inductions, or passes on inductees. I mean look how long it took for Pat Burns to get inducted. In my mind, Lindros falls into that list of questionable choices. With that being said, Lindros is now a member of the HHOF, so it is now time to say "NEXT" and see who's turn will come in 2017.