The team said all 15 previous captains would be invited to participate in an on-ice ceremony to celebrate the final year of the Spectrum.

"I have informed the Philadelphia Flyers that I'm unfortunately unable to attend the ceremony at the Spectrum because I will be attending a memorial service for my close friend's mother who recently passed away," Lindros said in a statement released yesterday through the team. "The Spectrum holds many special memories for me and I always enjoyed playing there in front of the great Flyers fans."

In another matter, Toronto captain Mats Sundin, 37, said yesterday he still hasn't decided if he will return to the NHL. Last month, Sundin's agent said the Flyers were among six teams interested in the center. *