Really cool post and insights, thanks for sharing.
Lindros is definitely not the biggest "what if" though in NHL history. Nobody will ever top Orr and Lemieux. But he's a big one, sure.
I believe the reason why he's the biggest "what if" is because of the potential that Lindros had during the '90's. Orr and Lemieux both won a couple of Stanley Cups each and both men were Conn Smythe winners (Orr - 1970, 1972; Lemieux - 1991, 1992) Both men won three Hart trophies, and each men have their own accolades.
Lindros after that 1995 season had a lot of potential. Sometimes I wonder what could've been had we invested in a goaltender and while Hextall was good, he was a shadow of his former self when he was more dominant in the 1980's. I blame the 1990's Flyer front office as to why the Flyers never lived up to expectations and Lindros can't do everything. Just ask GM Bob Clarke.
Also, it would've been impossible to keep three blue chip centers on the same team. There's a reason why the third line is designated for role players and enforcers and the fourth and fifth lines are for journeyman and new prospects. Had Aubut selected Lindros and Lindros gleefully accepted playing in QUE, Lindros would've had a harder time blossoming into the center we all know and love, as he would've had a hard time securing playing time between himself and Sakic/Sundin. While Sundin would eventually leave QUE for TOR after the 1993-94 season and be replaced for Forsberg, the point is that Lindros would have to share the ice with Sakic/Sundin and the QUE market at that time couldn't support all three centers, especially with the old and decrepit Colisée being the home for the Nordiques, which is why the Nords have to move just to win a couple of Stanley Cups.
And a couple more tidbits before I leave: he almost won the Art Ross Trophy in 1994-95. Jaromir Jagr is the winner of the Art Ross that season however Lindros and Jagr tied in that strike shortened season. Since there's no such thing as a tie, the NHL decided to award the Art Ross trophy to the highest goal scorer rather than the highest points scorer. Had the highest points scorer been the hallmark, then both Lindros and Jagr would've both won, but since the Art Ross trophy uses most goals scored than just points alone, then Jagr was awarded instead however had Lindros had another point whether another goal or an assist, then it would've been Lindros' first Art Ross and Lindros would've been the first Flyer to win an Art Ross in the history of the Philadelphia Flyers but the tiebreakers instead awarded Jagr instead because of Jagr having more goals than Lindros.
And Lindros is currently has the 18th most points per game (PPG) in his entire career, however, when it comes to his 8-year stint as a Philadelphia Flyer, his PPG is 1.356, meaning that some games as a Flyer, he'd have maybe a goal or an assist, and other games, he's be able to score a hat trick and even maybe a couple of assists. During Lindros' 8 years, he was a scoring machine and one wonders had the strike-shortened season never happened (Lindros would've probably won not just the Hart, Lindsay, and Pearson trophies but the Ross and even the Selke trophies). Looking at Lindros' 8 ears in PHI, the only other players who have a much higher PPG than Lindros are Orr, McDavid (active), Bossy, Lemieux, and Gretzky. Even Forsberg, Esposito, Sakic, Lafleur, Yzerman, Hull (father and son), Messier, and Clarke didn't have a higher PPG than what Lindros have between 1992 and 2000.
Lindros was three points shy of ever recording 100 points in the 1993-94 season and the strike shortened season cost Lindros another potential 100-point season and an additional hardware for Eric. I still wonder whether the Devils defensive scheme would've lasted has the NHL decided to play 82 games rather than just the 48. PHI had a window but I still don't see how the Devils would've lasted a full 82 games with that strategy and if that was the case, PHI probably would've beaten DET rather than the NJD.
