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  • 08/03/2009, 09:52PM ET

Eric Lindros or Cam Neely? Puckheads Tourney Rd 1 (Red Bracket)

Resistance is Foos-tile (130-17-4) vs torque1 (1-1-0)
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My choice...

Cam Neely

Why? Cam Neely was one of the most underrated players in the NHL. And was one of the first prototypical 'Power Forward' in the NHL. Where as he could hit, check, fight and score goals.

In 13 seasons he was limited to 726 games and scored 395 goals.
He reached 50 goals 3 times in his career. But his most impressive season was 1993-94 where he scored 50 goals in 49 games. He actually scored his 50th in his 44th game.
Only Wayne Gretzky scored 50 in fewer games (50 in 39 games) and only 6 other players in NHL history have scored 50 goals in 50 games or fewer other than Gretzky and Neely.

Neely was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2005.

The Bruins Retired his #8 in January 2004.


Up hill battle but here we go.
Eric Lindros. Although you are correct there Foos about Cam Neely being among the first true "power forwards", it was Lindros who personified it. Lindros was quite simply a wrecking ball on skates. He not only had the size 6'4" and 230lbs. He was incredibly strong. He just out muscled everybody off the puck.
In his rookie season with the Flyers he recorded 41 goals and 34 assists for 75 points in only 61 games. He achieved this by sitting in the penalty box for 147 mins.
Your own stats about Neely's totals are actually very similar to that of "The Next One".
760 games played over 14 years with 372 goals.
It cannot all be about just the stats though. slightly different eras.
Although I respect Roberts decision about not bringing in Lindros amazing stats as a Junior, it was his sheer dominance in Junior that allowed him to be the only rookie of the time to refuse to report to the team who choose him.
Call it cocky, conceded or whatever. He was that confidant in his own abilities. He then proceeded to back that up on the ice.


"Lindros was quite simply a wrecking ball on skates"
Scott Stevens would beg to differ..

You referred to Lindros as "The Next One" & yes he was suppose to be the Next One but he never really lived up to that reputation.

He should have been called "The Disappointing One".

"Call it cocky, conceded or whatever."
Call it controversy you mean.

Controversy & injuries followed Lindros all through his hockey career. Whether it was refusing to play for both the Junior team that drafted him in the OHL or refusing to play for the Nordiques. Publicly feuding with Bobby Clarke in the Media & forcing his was out of Philly by demanding a trade to the Leafs. Plus there was also the 7 concussions that he suffered.

Lindros never lived up to his billing as "The Next One". Besides after the Stevens hit he was never the same.



Sure he was a hard nosed player, but his ego wrote the cheques that his body couldn't cash! His numbers are borderline for the Hall of Fame, but his bad attitude & perception by the Hockey World will keep him out. The only way he gets in is if he buys a ticket.

more in my 3rd...


Fully agree with you foosball. Lindros was injured for the majority of his career, thus not allowing him to live up to his full expectations.
You have actually made some of my arguments for me.
And it wasn't a simple "feud" with Bobby Clarke. Bobby Clarke almost killed him by forcing him onto a plane with a collapsed lung with no medical attention. I would be rather bitter at that also.
Again I agree with you that the Scott Stevens hit was devastating to Eric's career. His multiple concussions changed who he was (as it did to his brother). But, can he be faulted for that?
Please keep in mind, Lindros was traded by Quebec for the likes of: Peter Forsberg, Ron Hextall, Mike Ricci, Steve Duchene, two number one draft picks as well as $15 million dollars!
His salary approched Mark Messier's. Could the GM's be faulted for that? Or was he just THAT GOOD? All this before even playing a game in the NHL! Fact was that he was THAT GOOD!
He lived up to every penny of that until injuries took their tole.
Even after that infamous hit by Stevens, Lindros produced: 73 points in 72 games! After taking the following year off after the 'hit'.
Exactly why is Cam Neely more dominant?


The Lindros trade to Philly helped create the core for the Avs Cups championships, (1 of those picks was Jocelyn Thibault, part of the deal for Patrick Roy).
The trade was part of the high expectations that Lindros just never lived up to. Which he could have if he was smarter & kept his head up & lower his chance of getting all those concussions. After his brother had 2 retire because of concussions you'd think that Eric would've been more careful.

Neely on the other hand was a team guy & a class act. That 93-94 season was 1 for the ages. He only played a little over 1/2 season, he still lead the NHL in game winning goals & is among only a few players that scored 50 goals in under 50 games. All of that on literally 1 leg as he had major knee & hip injuries.

Harry Sinden said of Neely "He was blessed with a rare blend of talent, strength & determination & inspired other players to play as he did hard & unrelenting."
Don Cherry once said "if you had to take a player to Mars to show the Martians how hockey was to be played, Cam Neely would be the guy you'd take."

Neely was the the ultimate team guy, something that Lindros never was. Lindros ego just simply wouldn't allow it


How do I say enough about Eric Lindros?

His name alone is pretty cool although he spells it with a "c". LOL

BTW : in basically the same amount of games, Cam Neely only scored 694 points.
Eric Lindros on the other hand scored 865 points. This during the 'clutching and grabbing era'.
Cam Neely: 1241 min. in penalties.
Eric Lindros:1398 Min. in penalties.

These stats alone show that Lindros was in-fact the superior player. And he played with more of an edge. How exactly is Cam Neely more dominant?

You are basing your TD on popularity and the fact that Eric had a*ses for parents who he allowed to control his professional career. It is not based on who was the better player, or you would had picked ERIC LINDROS.


Good luck to you and nice TD!

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