The two Flyers most synonymous with the 1990s decade are about to take their place in Flyers lore forever.
Eric Lindros was a Flyer from the beginning. Though drafted by the Quebec Nordiques, he was traded to the Flyers and instantly a future leader from his rookie season in
John LeClair started his career in Montreal before a trade to Philadelphia brought a change of scenery and a new linemate. This was the origin of the Legion of Doom.
Lindros and LeClair will join the lengthy list of Flyers great on Thursday night when they are inducted into the Flyers Hall of Fame.
Lindros was the top pick in the 1991 NHL Draft by the Quebec Nordiques, but never suited up for the team, being traded to the Flyers for Ron Hextall, Chris Simon, Mike Ricci, Kerry Huffman, Steve Duchesne and two draft picks, Jocelyn Thibault and Peter Forsberg. Forsberg was just inducted as a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame this weekend.
Immediately, Lindros made an impact. Being a player of skill and strength, Lindros gave the Flyers promise with his high points totals early in his career.
In 1994, Lindros was named captain of the Flyers and joined by LeClair and Mikael Renberg, formed the Legion of Doom.
In 1995, Lindros was the winner of the Hart Trophy as the overall MVP in the NHL. In the lockout-shortened season of 46 games, Lindros had 29 goals and 41 assists for 70 points.
LeClair started to play a key role with the team around the same time. Traded to the Flyers from Montreal in February 1995 for Mark Recchi and a draft pick, LeClair instantly teamed up with Lindros to form one of the most dynamic duos.
As the Legion of Doom rolled to success, LeClair started to build up incredible numbers. In his first full season with the Flyers, 1995-96, LeClair scored 51 goals. He repeated the feat in the next two seasons, becoming the first American player with three consecutive 50-goal seasons.
In 1996-97, the Flyers used the Legion of Doom to become one of the NHL's top contenders. That season, they rolled through the first three series of the playoffs against the Penguins, Sabres and Rangers, winning each in five games, to advance to the Stanley Cup Final. The Flyers were swept by the Red Wings, but Lindros and LeClair combined for 47 points in 19 games.
Following the run to the Cup Final, Lindros' career took a turn in two ways. His relationship with GM Bobby Clarke was strained and well-documented by the media. In addition, Lindros suffered his first concussion after taking a devastating hit from Darius Kasparaitis.
As the 1999 season progressed, Lindros suffered from both his second concussion and a broken rib that ultimately left him with a collapsed lung.
Finally, in 1999-2000, Lindros battled his third concussion throughout the season before returning during the Flyers playoff run. The Flyers held a 3-1 series lead on the New Jersey Devils in the Eastern Conference Final before losing the next three games. In Game 7, Scott Stevens delivered the final blow to Lindros' Flyers career with a crushing check that resulted in another concussion.
As disagreements within the organization continued to keep Lindros off the ice, the Flyers ultimately traded Lindros on Aug. 20, 2001 to the New York Rangers for Jan Hlavac, Kim Johnsson and Pavel Brendl.
Lindros played parts of three seasons with the Rangers before the lockout in 2004-05. He played 33 games in 2005-06 with the Toronto Maple Leafs and 49 games with the Dallas Stars in 2006-07 before announcing his retirement.
Lindros scored 372 goals and added 493 assists for 865 points in his NHL career. With the Flyers, Lindros played 486 games, scoring 290 goals and adding 369 assists for 659 points.
As Lindros' Flyers career came to an end, LeClair continued to be one of the game's top scorers. He followed his three 50-goal seasons with 43 goals in 1998-99 and 40 goals in 1999-2000.
LeClair continued to play with the Flyers through the 2003-04 season, when the new salary cap rules forced the team to buy out his contract. As a free-agent, LeClair signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins and played there for two seasons.
He finished his NHL career with 406 goals and 413 assists for 819 points. In his Flyers career of 649 games, LeClair scored 333 goals and added 310 assists for for 643 points.
LeClair remained a member of the Flyers Alumni following his career, but Lindros remained distant, leaving the impression that there was still bad blood from his fall out with the Flyers. That was put to rest when Lindros and LeClair reunited on the ice in the 2012 Winter Classic Alumni game.
Lindros helped set LeClair up for the first goal as the crowd at Citizens Bank Park roared. They also gave Lindros one of the loudest cheers upon introduction, proving that the fans had not lost any love for the former captain even after the rough end to his Flyers career.
The two deserving members who headlined the Legion of Doom and led the success decade of the 90s for the Flyers will take their places among the Flyers greats permanently on Thursday night.
Kevin Durso is managing editor for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @KDursoPhilsNet.
