Eric Lindros – Toronto Maple Leafs and the Shocking Non-Trade

The Big E Joins The Toronto Maple Leafs

After playing three seasons in New York, Lindros became an unrestricted free agent and was able to sign anywhere he desired. Finally, he was able to live out his dream of playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs. In the first year that the NHL had a salary cap, the Leafs and Lindros agreed to a one-year deal worth $1.55 million.

At the time, that contract was worth 3.97-percent of Toronto’s cap space. By today’s standards, 3.97-percent of the salary cap is worth $3,235, 550.

Unfortunately, the Maple Leafs investment didn’t work out very well, though the biggest disappointment must have come from Lindros. He only played until December (30 games) when he tore a ligament in his left wrist. The injury kept him out of action for 27 games. Lindros returned to the lineup to play in just three more contests before reinjuring his wrist, keeping him out of action for the remainder of the season.

In the 33 games that Lindros played, he recorded 11 goals and 11 assists for the Leafs. Sadly, those were the only points that Lindros ever had as a Maple Leaf. That’s because he played just one more season. He joined the Dallas Stars the next year and played in 49 regular season games where he had 5 goals and 21 assists for a total of 26 points.

In 2016, Lindros was rightfully inducted into the Hall of Fame. While it would have been great to have seen him hoist the Stanley Cup and play more than a single year in Toronto, he did make the best of his time in the NHL. He will be remembered as a legend in the game.