Monday's roundup: Lindros to enter Hall after six years of silence
Eric Lindros is finally a Hockey Hall of Famer.
Lindros was elected Monday as part of the 2016 class that also features Soviet star Sergei Makarov, goaltender Rogie Vachon, and the late coach and executive Pat Quinn.
Because concussions and other injuries cut his career short, Lindros was passed over for the Hall of Fame six previous times. But his Hart Trophy season as NHL MVP with the Flyers in 1995 and his 865 points in 760 games ended up being too much to keep him out.
“I haven’t stopped smiling since (Hall of Fame chairman Lanny McDonald) gave me the phone call to let me know that things are the way they are,” Lindros said.
Lindros was a junior hockey star and the No. 1 pick of the Quebec Nordiques in 1991. After refusing to sign with the Nordiques, he was sent to Philadelphia as part of one of the biggest trades in NHL history and spent the majority of his career there.
Friction with teammates and management dotted Lindros’ career, and he never won the Stanley Cup. But Lindros won two world junior gold medals and Olympic gold in 2002 representing Canada.
Makarov was more than a point-a-game scorer for the Soviet national team as part of the famed KLM line with Vladimir Krutov and 2008 Hall of Fame inductee Igor Larionov. He won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year with Calgary in 1991 and put up 384 points in 424 games with the Flames, San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars, once Russian players were able to play in the NHL.
Vachon won the Vezina Trophy with the Canadiens in 1967-68 and was part of three Cup-champion teams in Montreal. He went on to play with the Los Angeles Kings, Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins and finished with 355 victories.
Because he has been eligible for three decades, the 70-year-old Vachon said he stopped waiting for the call from the Hall of Fame.
Quinn, who died in November 2014, led Lindros and Canada to the gold medal at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics and coached the 1979-80 Flyers team that went a record 35 consecutive games without a loss.
Preds re-sign Forsberg
The Nashville Predators have signed forward Filip Forsberg to a six-year, $36 million contract, locking up one of their brightest young stars long term.
Forsberg will make $6 million each of the next six seasons under terms of the deal announced Monday, At a Monday conference call, Forsberg described the negotiations as a “really smooth process.”
“To be honest with you, I never really thought about anything else but staying in Nashville,” Forsberg said. “I think we’ve got something really interesting going and I wanted to be a part of that.”
Forsberg, 21, led the Predators in goals (33) and points (64) for the second straight season in 2015-16. He tied a single-season franchise record in goals and ranked 10th in the NHL in that category. That followed a 2014-15 season in which Forsberg had 26 goals and 37 assists.
The 6-foot-1, 205-pound wing has played all 82 of Nashville’s regular-season games each of the last two years.
“Filip is among the most skilled, dynamic talents we’ve ever had in the organization and is an integral part of our success for the next six years and beyond,” Predators general manager David Poile said in a statement. “While we have already seen his creativity, hockey sense and puck skills, he has yet to reach the peak of his abilities. We have full confidence that he will continue to blossom into one of the top players in the world.”
The Predators acquired Forsberg in an April 2013 trade that sent forwards Martin Erat and Michael Latta to the Washington Capitals.
Forsberg said Monday that his Nashville experience has “been great since Day One.” He wanted to stay in Nashville as part of a nucleus that enabled the Predators to reach the postseason each of the last two seasons.
Nashville advanced to the second round of the playoffs this past season before losing to the San Jose Sharks in seven games.
“It’s going to be really interesting to be a part of this and just try to build on it,” Forsberg said. “We had a really good team last year. If all the players that we’ve still got can just improve and get better, and we add something in free agency and stuff like that, we have a really good chance of winning the Cup in the future.”
Kane complaints
Buffalo police have released a pair of complaints against Sabres forward Evander Kane in which two women accuse him of grabbing them at a bar.
The accusers’ names are blacked out in the harassment reports released. The incidents allegedly occurred shortly after 3 a.m. EDT on Friday. Police say they are investigating and no charges have been filed.
According to the reports, one woman told police Kane threatened her inside the club and when outside, grabbed her throat. The second woman accused the 6-foot-2 Kane of trying to force her from the bar.
Kane’s attorney wasn’t immediately available by phone.
A spokesman for the Sabres said the team had no new response.
Ice chips
The Predators have hired former All-Star defenseman Wade Redden as assistant director of player development.
...The Coyotes have signed goalie Louis Domingue to a two-year contract.