Former hockey superstar Eric Lindros officially announced his retirement from the NHL on Thursday after 13 seasons in the league.
The 34-year-old forward announced the decision at a press conference in his hometown of London, Ont., in combination with a $5 million donation to the London Heath Sciences Foundation.
"I truly enjoyed my days of playing and look forward to the next chapter of my life,'' Lindros said Thursday.
"I played with the best, I played against the best -- it was a blast. It really truly was."
Lindros was taken first-overall by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1991 NHL entry draft and was highly-touted for his size and impact play.
He was often compared to Wayne Gretzky in terms of the impact he was expected to have on the NHL.
He refused to sign with Quebec and sat out an entire season before being traded to the Flyers for six players, two first-round draft choices and $15 million.
He went on to score 41 goals in his rookie year at the age of 19.
He left Philadelphia in 2001 due in part to his father-agent Carl, who quarreled openly with the Flyers' GM Bobby Clarke.
His career was hampered by injuries and his effectiveness was limited in later seasons.
He missed time recovering from a series of concussions -- eight throughout his career -- and he sat out the entire 2001-2002 season and averaged only 58 games a season.
Lindros was notably successful while representing his country, playing on nine national teams including the squad that won gold at the 2002 Winter Olympics.
He also won Olympic silver in 1992, two gold medals with Canadian junior teams and was on Canada's gold medal-winning 1991 Canada Cup team.
Lindros finished his playing career with 372 goals and 493 assists in 760 games.
He won the Hart Trophy as the NHL's MVP in 1995.
Lindros also played for the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Dallas Stars before retiring on Thursday.
Lindros' donation will help the Fowler Kennedy Sports Medicine Clinic, where he was treated during his playing career.
"Eric's generosity is a tremendous boost to the dedicated team of researchers and health care workers at London Health Sciences Centre,'' said clinic co-founder Dr. Peter Fowler.
Lindros is expected to join the staff of the NHL Players' Association as the new ombudsman.
"I think it would be a great job to begin with," he said on Thursday.
"I think seeing the likes of Ted Lindsay and then later on Carl Brewer, there's so many who have stepped up for others in the association and in the National Hockey League. It would be a privilege to represent the guys in our association.''
