PHILADELPHIA, March 23 (UPI) -- The already strained relationship between superstar Eric Lindros and the Philadelphia Flyers worsened Thursday when the team captain blasted the franchise for its handling of his latest concussion.
Meeting with the media for the first time since suffering his fourth concussion, Lindros described dealings with team officials as "really frustrating."
"There is a lot of stress," he said. "It shouldn't be like this. Hockey should be strap on the skates and go out and play. You get hurt, you heal, get back and play. All of a sudden this stuff is really frustrating. I haven't said anything in the past, but I have boiled over. I am really unhappy with what goes on here."
Lindros will be sidelined four to six weeks after a specialist in Chicago confirmed the oft-injured center suffered a more serious Grade II concussion on March 4 against Boston.
Team physicians had insisted Lindros sustained only a Grade I concussion after he was checked by Bruins defenseman Hal Gill. The new diagnosis came after Lindros was examined Tuesday in Chicago by Dr. James Kelly, a Northwestern University neurologist and one of the country's leading experts on concussions.
As a result, Lindros, 27, will be sidelined into the playoffs and will not be re-examined for 30 days. Only five days earlier, he received a clean bill of health after his release from a Philadelphia hospital.
This latest in a series of concussions is not considered career-threatening, team officials have said. Lindros has had four concussions in the past year but played four games after the latest one before missing the last six contests.
Today, he said the Flyers' medical staff was aware of his condition during the Boston game.
"(Trainer) John Worley knew everything," Lindros said. "I came in after the period and vomited. I had heat packs on my head and a number of different things. I had a headache. I have to admit I was not to assertive, or I should say, I wasn't pounding down the notion that I was experiencing real bad headaches because I wanted to keep playing."
Lindros said he did not ask out of the lineup out of concern that his father and agent, Carl, would be blamed.
"I wanted the team to pull me out," he said. "You know what happens around here when my dad gets involved in this. It's just a big headache. A lot of behind-the-scenes stuff occurs, which is unfortunate."
Lindros said he has not spoken to Flyers general manager Bob Clarke or team chairman Ed Snider since the latest concussion.
"I was hoping the team would take me out," he said. "Another reason I kept playing is this environment here. The last time I had a concussion, I didn't talk to Clarke for three weeks. What he would say off the record was that my agent was a fool and disruptive for insisting the team follow the return-to-play guidelines (for concussions)."
In a statement released before Thursday night's home game with Los Angeles, the team said:
"Based upon Eric Lindros' comments today, it is obvious that he and the Philadelphia Flyers have different perspectives concerning the medical judgments that were made following his most recent injury. However, this in no way impacts upon the high level of confidence we have in the integrity and skill of our training staff and medical team.
"In light of Dr. Kelly's conclusions, we are moving forward under his guidelines and are looking forward to Eric's complete recovery. Our responsibility now is to minimize any further distractions so that our team can give its full attention to preparing for the upcoming playoffs."
This latest episode has sparked speculation Lindros already may have played his final game in a Flyers' uniform. His contract expires at the end of the season and he would be a restricted free agent over the summer.
