Just when you thought the whole Eric Lindros soap opera was closed for the season, the Flyers bring you at least one more episode. This bonus chapter is called "The Return of Lindros," and it will be aired coast-to-coast tonight in New Jersey.
|  | | Lindros wore a practice uniform for one day before declaring his readiness to play. |
In a very unexpected plot twist, the Flyers decided, after just one practice with the club, Lindros was ready to play. And so, in a brief news conference, all the things that happened between the time Lindros left the team with a concussion March 12 were put aside -- at least on a temporary basis.
You can expect Lindros to play only about 10 minutes in Game 6 in New Jersey, a long way from the 20-25 minutes to which he is accustomed. You can also expect to
see Lindros take some shifts on the wing, rather than at center.
Forget the fact Lindros got into a spat with management about his medical care after getting hit in Boston on March 12. Forget the fact Lindros was stripped of his captaincy. And forget the adversarial relationship between Lindros and general manager Bob Clarke.
You can even forget the second concussion which Lindros suffered as he tried to get back in shape in the playoffs. None of that matters at
this point.
Here are the key elements to consider in this latest edition of the Flyers tumultuous season:
The decision to bring Lindros back came from within the locker room. It was a matter of several players conferring with coach Craig Ramsay, and deciding
the Flyers' best chances to win the next game, the series, and the Stanley Cup were with Lindros back in the lineup.
Upon his return, Lindros will be treated as just another player. He will have to bend his game to the Flyers' new game plan, not vice versa.
All the problems with management will be pushed aside, at least until the end of the season.
In fact, Clarke still has not even spoken to Lindros. If you'll recall, one of the mandates the Flyers placed on Lindros returning to the
lineup was he would have to clear the air with Clarke and club chairman Ed Snider.
"All of that is the past," Clarke said. "What's the point of
it now? It was all so long ago, I think I forget what it was all about."
That is hardly the case, and you can bet nobody will forget when it comes time to negotiate a deal -- or more likely a trade of Lindros when the season is over. But
for right now, the Stanley Cup is in such clear focus, everything else is put aside.
The one danger is his return will cause change for a team that has pushed its way through two series without Lindros, and is just
one victory away from the finals.
"I'm not worried about that," Clarke said. "Things have been fouled up
for awhile. I think this team plays better when things are all fouled up."
Clarke was joking when he said that, but there was no joking inside the locker room when Ramsay laid down some of the laws concerning Lindros' return.
In the first place, Ramsay said he made it clear to Lindros that he would have to abide by the team concept which has carried the Flyers through two rounds.
That concept is short shifts -- which should not be a problem as Lindros tires to get back into game shape.
If and when the Flyers advance, Lindros will get more time on the ice, but the Flyers have ceased to be a team where the stars such as Lindros, John LeClair and Mark
Recchi get as much ice time as they want.
Ramsay also made it a team policy that no player would comment on the return of Lindros. A player can comment about Lindros on the ice, but nothing
about the decision to bring him back into the fold. According to Ramsay, if the team
had to keep considering that question, it would drive them all crazy.
Well, the whole situation in Philly has appeared crazy for a few months, and it still hasn't stopped the team's success. Mind you, none one of this should have any
bearing on the long-term status of Lindros in Philadelphia. Perhaps if the Flyers win the Cup, then Lindros and club management will have a peace treaty.
As for right now, this just shows how strong the pull of the Stanley Cup is. Everything is put
aside until the quest for the Cup is over.
Al Morganti covers the NHL for ESPN.
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