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Lindros focused on union work, not playing

'Right now my focus is the ’PA work,' unrestricted free agent star says

TORONTO - Eric Lindros is concentrating on his work with the NHL Players’ Association these days, keeping his NHL playing career on hold.

So will the 34-year-old play again next season?

“Right now my focus is the ’PA work,” Lindros told The Canadian Press on Wednesday. “I’m not really concerned about the rest of it. But the last couple of years have been pretty frustrating in terms of not getting through without being injury-free. ... It’s just frustrating.”

Lindros, an unrestricted free agent, was limited to 49 games last season with the Dallas Stars and scored a career-low five goals before missing 20 games with a groin injury.

Back for the final three games of the playoffs, Lindros helped the Stars get back in the series with some aggressive play and solid hits but he took only three shots.

He played 33 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2005-06 and 39 games with the New York Rangers in 2003-04.

The center may be leaning toward retirement, but he won’t say for sure.

“I’ve got an idea of what I’m going to do, and I’ve had that idea ever since the last game of the playoffs,” Lindros said. “But right now is about focusing on the ’PA.”

Lindros has devoted his offseason to helping the union cause. He is on the NHLPA’s constitutional review committee and among five players selected to head the search committee for a new executive director to replace Ted Saskin. He joins Detroit’s Chris Chelios, Los Angeles Kings’ Mike Cammalleri, Edmonton’s Shawn Horcoff and Calagary’s Robyn Regehr on the search committee.

“It’s been interesting, it’s been a learning experience I don’t think any of us have gone through before,” Lindros said. “A lot of people are helping us out in terms of great direction and ideas and support. We’re making some headway. We’re currently looking at search firms.”

Saskin was fired in May over accusations that he ordered the reading of players’ e-mails. A report on the matter is expected next month.

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Lindros said he got more involved last year, frustrated by infighting over the acceptance of a salary cap and Saskin’s controversial hiring.

“My hat’s off to Chelly and Trent Klatt, among others, and what they got started,” Lindros said of the group that rose up against Saskin.

Lindros also feels compelled to help for other reasons.

“You just look back at how fortunate you’ve been and what some of the older players, when I broke in, how they sacrificed the latter stages of their career — certainly the lockout in ’94 — to do what was best for our group,” Lindros said. “It’s time to help out in that same way.”

The NHLPA will hold its annual general membership player meeting Aug. 29-31 in Toronto.

© 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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