Perjantaina pitäisi olla tiedotustilaisuus, kunhan ensin saadaan pari pikkuriikkistä muotoseikkaa selviksi Ericin ja Rangersin välillä. Ja näiden muotoseikkojen ei pitäisi olla esteenä kaupalle. Alla on artikkeli aiheesta ja olen "boldannut" pääkohtia tai muuten mielenkiintoisia seikkoja:
<b>Lindros arrives in New York</b>
Eric Lindros tells Sportsnet "the deal is done pending insurance."
NEW YORK -- Eric Lindros touched down at LaGuardia Airport in New York on Wednesday night ready to wrap up a deal that would make him a Ranger.
<b>"The deal is done pending insurance on both sides,"</b> said Lindros when contacted by Sportsnet on Wednesday evening.
Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos has learned that the Rangers have offered Lindros <b>a four-year, $40 million deal. The deal would become guaranteed if Lindros can complete one full season free from injury. </b>
Kypreos also discovered that Lindros was in Chicago on Wednesday meeting with Dr. James Kelly, a neurosurgeon and concussion specialist. He caught a flight to New York after the meeting.
The New York Post said Wednesday that should New York land the Big E, they will then sign unrestricted free agent Brett Hull.
The Flyers-Rangers deal would see Philadelphia get<b> forward Jan Hlavac, defenceman Kim Johnsson, highly touted forward prospect Pavel Brendl and a draft choice in exchange for the talented 28-year-old centre with a history of concussions. </b>
New York papers reported owner Cablevision had imposed a gag order on Rangers personnel about the proposed trade.
Flyers general manager Bob Clarke said he didn't expect to make any announcement on Wednesday, according the The Associated Press.
Rangers general manager Glen Sather returned from vacation Wednesday, and was believed to be negotiating a deal with Carl Lindros, Eric's father and agent.
Sather could not be reached for comment. Carl Lindros did not return phone calls.
The Philadelphia Inquirer, meanwhile reported the Flyers were “giddy but mum” Tuesday
“There is nothing to talk about,” said a smiling Clarke.
Confident the deal would come off, the Inquirer was rating the deal in Wednesday's edition. The paper said the consensus among NHL executives was that the Flyers were getting the best end of the deal.
A call-in show on WFAN, a New York all-sports station, showed 79 per cent of callers against the Lindros deal, said the New York Daily News.
The Daily News said the only obstacle to the deal being concluded was a contract agreement between Lindros and the Flyers.
The Philadelphia Inquirer and New York Times reported that the Rangers want Lindros to sign a four-year deal. That would carry him one year past the point when he is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent.
The Post said the Rangers were looking at a guarantee of some $3 million a year with the Lindros camp wanting substantially more. But the New York Times said the New York offer is higher -- closer to the Flyers' $8.5-million qualifying offer -- as an incentive to sign a longer deal.
Lindros sat out last season after rejecting an offer from the Flyers. He refused to return to the team because of a contentious relationship with Clarke.
Lindros hasn't played since a check from New Jersey's Scott Stevens in Game 7 of the 2000 Eastern Conference final gave him his sixth concussion 14 months ago.
Once he was cleared to resume skating last November, Lindros said he only would play for his home-town Toronto Maple Leafs. Days before the trade deadline in March, Lindros added St. Louis, Detroit and Washington to his list. He added the Rangers to the list last month.
The Flyers have been close to dealing Lindros to Toronto, the New York Islanders, St. Louis, Detroit and Edmonton. But each time the deal fell through.
In eight injury-filled seasons with the Flyers, Lindros had 290 goals and 369 assists. He made six All-Star teams and won the MVP award in 1995, but Philadelphia lost its only Stanley Cup final with him.
© The Canadian Press, 2001