NHL legend shares memories of ‘intense’ Toronto Maple Leafs fans at local diner

Long before John Tavares, Joe Thornton, or Patrick Marleau became the Canadian superstars signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs, another eventual Hall of Famer decided to take his talents to the Blue and White in free agency.

In 2005, Eric Lindros signed a one-year deal with Toronto, with the first overall pick in the 1991 draft and the 1995 Hart Trophy winner returning home for what ended up being his penultimate NHL season.

Chatting with Nick Alberga and former Leafs forward Jay Rosehill on Leafs Morning Take this week, the 2016 Hall of Fame inductee opened up about his time in Toronto.

“They were short,” Lindros said about his negotiations to sign with the Leafs. “Just to come back and play in Toronto, I wish I had done it earlier and healthier. I loved playing in Toronto, it was always a dream. You grow up around here, it’s all about the blue and white, and I wanted to experience it. I was fortunate enough to have a chance at the end.”

Lindros ended up putting up 11 goals and 11 assists in 33 games in Toronto, with injuries limiting his availability during his lone year in town.

“ Philly’s intense. There’s no question about it. Toronto’s intense, too,” he said. “ You wake up in Toronto, you go down to the diner… that was down the way that a lot of guys would go over to before practice. And everybody in the place would know if you had a good game the night before or a stinker.”

“That’s just the way it is and it kept you honest. I liked it, I thought it was good. People are happy to say hello and wish you good luck at the gas station… they want you to do well, they’re pulling for you.”

Based on a quick scan of Google Maps, it seems like Egglicious at 430 Kipling Avenue might be the spot Lindros was talking about, given that it’s only a few hundred metres away from the Leafs’ practice facility in Toronto’s West End.

While Lindros felt there were a lot of similarities between his time in Toronto and Philadelphia, he joked that he was far less recognizable during his time with the New York Rangers.

“You’ve got Robert De Niro walking down the street,” Lindros laughed.