Pull a Lindros? It sent the Québec Nordiques to the top of the NHL.

Go ahead. Pull a Lindros.

Blackhawks haters have been calling for Connor Bedard, the presumptive No.1 pick in the 2023 NHL draft, to not sign with Chicago if the team selects the slick forward on June 28 in Nashville.

Blackhawks fans have been worried about Bedard doing just that. Their dreams of a franchise savior, the next Patrick Kane, will have been dashed.

Not so fast.

The Nordiques and GM Pierre Pagé (left) along with Pierre Gauthier (right) drafted Lindros fisrst overall in 1991. Source: NHL.

Like Bedard, Eric Lindros was billed as generational talent that a team can build – or rebuild –around. The Québec Nordiques drafted Lindros first overall in 1991, but he refused to sign with them and ended up having his rights traded to Philadelphia a year later.

All the drama didn’t hurt the Nordiques on the ice, even if they moved to Denver and became the Colorado Avalanche for the 1995-96 season.

Lindros wasn’t a messiah for the Nordiques. He turned out to be a much more valuable asset, a term Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson likes to use.

And yes, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft isn’t necessarily Bedard. Not, at least, until he signs, plays with and produces for Chicago. That No.1 pick is a very valuable asset that Davidson needs to maximize.

Eric Lindros already had an imposing physique as a teen. Source: Toronto Public Library.

Lindros could have played in the NHL in 1991-92 with Québec. At age 18, he was 6-foot-4, 220-ish pounds and a ready-made, man-child power forward. Think Brandon Saad, only faster and  more skilled.

Like Bedard, Eric Lindros was billed as generational talent that a team can build – or rebuild –around. The Québec Nordiques drafted Lindros first overall in 1991, but he refused to sign with them and ended up having his rights traded to Philadelphia a year later.

Lindros didn’t want to play in Quebec, citing “a lack of winning spirit” in the organization. He also didn’t want to skate in the NHL’s smallest – and a francophone – market.

Interestingly, Lindros updated his reasons for spurning the Nordiques after a string of concussions forced him to retire. He eventually said he didn’t want to play for team owner Marcel Aubut, who later was accused of sexual harassment by a female colleague.

But Lindros and his family, from the Greater Toronto Area, were already known for a streak of strong self-interest. At age 16, Lindros been drafted by the Ontario Hockey League Soo Greyhounds, but his family didn’t want him to move north to Sault Ste. Marie and pressured a switch to the nearby Oshawa Generals.

Carl, Bonnie and Eric Lindros. Source: Toronto Public Library.

Lindros’ mother, Bonnie, was noted for being particularly domineering. She and husband Carl both came from athletic backgrounds. Bonnie Lindros, a high school track star, referred to herself in an interview as a “great standing broad.” https://vault.si.com/vault/1991/12/09/two-tough-mothers-bettie-taylor-and-bonnie-lindros-want-the-best-for-their-sons-pitcher-brien-taylor-and-center-eric-lindros-and-they-arent-intimidated-by-major-league-baseball-or-thr-nhl

The Nordiques drafted Lindros anyway and he refused to pull on the team’s sweater at the old Buffalo Memorial Auditorium. He spent the 1991-92 season back at Oshawa and skating for Canada at the 1992 World Junior Championship and the 1992 Olympics. Lindros warned the Nordiques that he would play outside the NHL in 1992-93 and re-enter the draft in 1993.

On June 20, 1992, Québec brokered deals for his rights with the Flyers and the New York Rangers.

After week of arbitration, Lindros’ rights were awarded to the Flyers in exchange for six players — Steve Duchesne, Peter Forsberg, Ron Hextall, Kerry Huffman, Mike Ricci and Chris Simon — two draft picks and $15 million. One of the picks became goalie Jocelyn Thibault, who went on to play for the Blackhawks.

Peter Forsberg, also a Hall of Famer, helped lead the Colorado Avalanche to two Stanley Cup and outproduced Lindros during his career.

The deal paid off immediately for Québec.

The Nordiques had finished at 16-50-14 in 1990-91 to land the 1991 top draft pick. But Québec already had two future Hall-of-Fame forwards, Joe Sakic (1987 first-round pick) and Mats Sundin (1989 first-round pick) who were about to come into their own in the NHL.

In 1991-92, the Nords had just 52 points. After the trade with Philadelphia, they jumped to 104 points in 1992-93, After slipping in 1993-94, the Nordiques rebounded to 30-13-5 and first place in a shortened 1994-95 season, their last in Québec.

The team moved to Denver and won its first Stanley Cup in 1995-96. The Avalanche has been one of the NHL’s better franchises ever since, earning two more championships.

And Forsberg alone out-produced Lindros during their careers. The slick playmaking Swede finished with 249 goal, 636 assists and 885 points in 708 regular-season game over 13 seasons. Lindros had 372 goals, 493 assists and 864 points in 760 games over 13 seasons.

Forsberg helped the Avalanche win two Stanley Cup. Lindros won none with the Flyers, Rangers, Maple Leafs and Stars

So to any draftee: Go ahead. Pull a Lindros.

The NHL is a business. You’re an asset.