Eric Lindros has lifted his Toronto Maple Leafs-only trade demand.
In another move to escape the hold of the Philadelphia Flyers and stubborn general manager Bob Clarke, Lindros has begun talks with three other National Hockey League teams, the St. Louis Blues, Detroit Red Wings and Washington Capitals.
During the past nine months, Lindros held firm on his wish to play for Toronto. But with Maple Leafs' GM-coach Pat Quinn admitting defeat yesterday in his bid to land Lindros, the centre opened up the process by telling the Blues, Wings and Capitals that he also was interested in playing for them.
Blues GM Larry Pleau admitted he has talked to Lindros's agent/father Carl. The Flyers, however, have turned down the Blues' first trade offer.
"It's still Eric's desire to be with the Leafs," Lindros's lawyer Gordon Kirke said last night. "But you have to do what you have to do. If something can be done, Eric wants to be back playing."
Eight days ago, Quinn phoned Lindros to tell him that the Leafs had packed in the frustrating drama of trying to land him in a trade with the Flyers. Lindros told Quinn that he would wait and see if a last-minute deal could be worked out. Quinn, however, extinguished that possibility by stating a trade with the Flyers would not happen.
Now it's up to Clarke to make good on a recent rant. Two weeks ago, he said Lindros should allow him to deal with more than one team.
"Maybe there are other teams who are willing to give us what we want," he said.
But if Detroit, St. Louis or Washington do not satisfy the Flyers, Clarke could come back to Quinn.
Two weeks ago, the Toronto general manager offered a package that would have sent centre Nik Antropov, defenceman Danny Markov and a first-round pick to Philadelphia in exchange for Lindros. But Clarke was concerned about Markov's back injury and increased the asking price to blueliner Tomas Kaberle. Quinn refused. There has been little dialogue between the two general managers since.
Lindros, 28, contacted the Leafs last June to indicate his interest in playing for Toronto. Then the framework of a contract was worked out during the summer. When the deal was close to being completed two weeks ago, Lindros and the Leafs reworked the contract and put the finishing touches on it.
Lindros, a restricted free agent, turned down the Flyers' qualifying offer of $8.5-million (U.S.) last July. He has not played since suffering his sixth career concussion after being hit by New Jersey Devils defenceman Scott Stevens in the seventh game of the Eastern Conference final on May 26. Lindros was medically cleared to play in late November.
If Clarke fails to trade him by Tuesday's 3 p.m. ET deadline, an option for Lindros is to suit up for Canada at the world hockey championship in Germany late next month.