“Maybe that wasn’t the best course of action for them…” could be said about a lot of aspects of this era.
Dan chats with current Rangers and former Islanders beatwriter Colin Stephenson about Brett Lindros, who was expected to be a star but was forced to retire far too soon due to concussions.
Following in the footsteps of his brother Eric, who was already a force in the NHL, Brett was a charming, well-spoken boy in a man’s body when the Islanders selected him in the first round of the 1994 draft. With a lockout and disastrous previous season draining the customer base, the team put Lindros on the ice immediately, where he was a willing fight combatant but not much of a scorer. By Year Two, a series of head injuries became too much for him to bear, and at the age of just 20, he had to leave the game and the team that had hoped he would lead.
Colin talks about covering this “eventful” Islanders era and about his dealings with Lindros before the “shattered dream” of his career had to be ended. The Islanders made a lot of mistakes back then, mostly off the ice, and a kid with a lot of promise paid the price for them.
Thanks again to Colin for coming on, and for having a great memory and sense of humor. He was quite surprised to get an email from an Islanders podcast after spending so many years on the Rangers beat, but he clearly still has an affinity for the club and his experience in writing about them back then is an invaluable resource now.
WEIRD BONUS MATERIAL!
- Islanders GM Don Maloney, who called Brett “The Better Lindros” when he drafted him, told Sports Illustrated he hoped the young player would give the franchise an identity they lacked.
- Video of the Islanders drafting Lindros in 1994 (en Francais)
- His first game, the 1995 season opener, was a big deal for the Islanders…
- …as was the first Lindros vs Lindros match up, which came a few games into the season. The super Lindros bros even got into a bit of a scrum in Philly early in Brett’s NHL time.
- Another profile on Lindros from his first season, from his drafting to his instant impact on the Islanders.
- Here’s the fight with Francois Leroux that gave Lindros his first NHL concussion.
- Physicality was a big part of Brett’s game. He wasn’t afraid to mix it up with the big boys (Claude Lemieux got suspended for this sucker punch). His fight card included a preseason fight with the Rangers Darren Langdon, multiple bouts with Panthers enforcer Paul Laus and one against future Weird Islander Dean Malkoc.
- It took a while but Lindros’ first NHL goal came in March of 1995 against the Whalers. It wasn’t how he drew it up, but it counted just the same.
- Despite his alarming number of concussions, including undiagnosed ones from his junior days, there was hope that young Lindros’s career was not going to be over so soon.
- By that point, there was a new coach and new uniforms (that would both be hated in equal measure) and Mike Milbury wanted to see more out of Brett.
- But in May of 1996, after two more concussions and on the advice of personal and team doctors, Brett Lindros decided to retire from hockey at the age of 20.
- A Hockey News story from the time about Lindros’ “shattered dream” and early retirement.
- The Islanders and Lindros got into a contract dispute after his decision to retire but they settled in 1998.
- A story from this summer on Lindros’ all too short NHL career.
- A TSN video package on Lindros’ retirement announcement.
- After he retired, Lindros hosted the NHLPA Be a Player show. In one episode, he got to interview his former Islanders teammates in the frat house they lived in.
What makes a “Weird Islander?”
We’re always open to suggestions about other Weird Islanders to discuss. Remember the criteria. Candidates must fulfill one of the two of the following:
- Played one (1) season or less for the Islanders or very short stints over multiple seasons.
- Be a veteran NHLer who is not generally associated with his time on Islanders.
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