Flyers retire Hall of Fame center Eric Lindros ' No. 88
Eric Lindros
PHILADELPHIA (AP) â Nearly 17 years after a bitter breakup  the Philadelphia Flyers retired Eric Lindros' jersey on Thursday night in a stirring tribute to the Hall of Fame center.
No. 88 was raised to the rafters of Wells Fargo Center  a facility  Lindros  helped open in 1996  before the Flyers played his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs.
"Very blessed that I could've played in Philadelphia "  Lindros  said as the crowd roared.
Combining size  skill and strength   the 6-foot-4 Lindros  averaged a franchise record 1.35 points per game in Philadelphia from 1992-2000.  Lindros  won the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 1995 after leading the NHL with 70 points in the lockout-shortened season.  He  helped the Flyers to the Stanley Cup Final two years later  where they were swept by Detroit.
"These are one of those days you take for the rest of your life. It's a special moment "  Lindros  said before the ceremony. "You feel lucky."
In an elaborate 23-minute  on-ice tribute that included video highlights on a giant four-sided projector and gifts   Lindros  was surrounded by trophies  he  won with a lighted  orange No. 88 serving as a backdrop.
It was a feud with Clarke  then the Flyers general manager  that led to his ugly exit from Philadelphia. It stemmed mostly from the treatment  Lindros  received for a number of concussions and a collapsed lung  with  his  parents often criticizing the Flyers' medical team.
After a shoulder-to-jaw hit by New Jersey's Scott Stevens in the 2000 playoffs   Lindros  missed all of the 2000-01 season because of post-concussion issues and a contract dispute with Clarke. His trade demand was granted in August 2001 when he was sent to the New York Rangers.
 Lindros  was asked if back in 2001 he could have envisioned his number being retired in Philly.
"No  you?"  Lindros  said  drawing laughter. "No  what happened  it was no doubt difficult and frustrating."
 Lindros   Clarke and the Flyers eventually patched things up with the help of Flyers president Paul Holmgren.  Lindros  appeared at an outdoor alumni game in Philadelphia in 2012  and Clarke pushed for  Lindros ' 2016 induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame while serving on the selection committee.
"It was great for Bob to say what he did. It was special  " Lindros  said. "We disagreed on some things  no doubt  but when it came down to hockey and if winning is it  I can't question Bob and his desire."
 Lindros  skated on the Wells Fargo Center ice in the early afternoon with  his  wife and 3-year-old son  the oldest of their three children.
 Lindros'  parents  Carl and Bonnie  attended the ceremony  along with  his  sister and brother Brett  who spent two seasons with the New York Islanders before a concussion ended  his  career in 1996.
 Lindros  has become a vocal advocate for concussion awareness and research.
"No  we're nowhere near where we need to be "  he  said. "And a lot of it stems from the research dollars."
PHILADELPHIA (AP) â Nearly 17 years after a bitter breakup   [TGT]  jersey on Thursday night in a stirring tribute to the Hall of Fame center.
No. 88 was raised to the rafters of Wells Fargo Center  a facility   [TGT] helped open in 1996  before the Flyers played  [TGT]  hometown Toronto Maple Leafs.
"Very blessed that I could've played in Philadelphia  [TGT] said as the crowd roared.
Combining size  skill and strength   the 6-foot-4  [TGT] averaged a franchise record 1.35 points per game in Philadelphia from 1992-2000.   [TGT] won the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 1995 after leading the NHL with 70 points in the lockout-shortened season.   [TGT]   helped the Flyers to the Stanley Cup Final two years later  where they were swept by Detroit.
"These are one of those days you take for the rest of your life. It's a special moment "   [TGT] said before the ceremony. "You feel lucky."
In an elaborate 23-minute  on-ice tribute that included video highlights on a giant four-sided projector and gifts    [TGT] was surrounded by trophies  he  won with a lighted  orange No. 88 serving as a backdrop.
It was a feud with Clarke  then the Flyers general manager  that led to his ugly exit from Philadelphia. It stemmed mostly from the treatment   [TGT] received for a number of concussions and a collapsed lung  with   [TGT]   parents often criticizing the Flyers' medical team.
After a shoulder-to-jaw hit by New Jersey's Scott Stevens in the 2000 playoffs    [TGT] missed all of the 2000-01 season because of post-concussion issues and a contract dispute with Clarke. His trade demand was granted in August 2001 when he was sent to the New York Rangers.
  [TGT] was asked if back in 2001  [TGT]  could have envisioned  [TGT]  number being retired in Philly.
"No  you?"   [TGT] said  drawing laughter. "No  what happened  it was no doubt difficult and frustrating."
 Lindros   Clarke and the Flyers eventually patched things up with the help of Flyers president Paul Holmgren.   [TGT] appeared at an outdoor alumni game in Philadelphia in 2012  and Clarke pushed for  Lindros ' 2016 induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame while serving on the selection committee.
"It was great for Bob to say what he did. It was special  "  [TGT] said. "We disagreed on some things  no doubt  but when it came down to hockey and if winning is it  I can't question Bob and his desire."
  [TGT] skated on the Wells Fargo Center ice in the early afternoon with  his  wife and 3-year-old son  the oldest of their three children.
 Lindros'  parents  Carl and Bonnie  attended the ceremony  along with  his  sister and brother Brett  who spent two seasons with the New York Islanders before a concussion ended  his  career in 1996.
 Lindros  has become a vocal advocate for concussion awareness and research.
"No  we're nowhere near where we need to be "  he  said. "And a lot of it stems from the research dollars."