If you missed #'s 1-20 check that out here at FiredforWinning.com.
21. Dave Brown (1982-89; 91-95)
Brownie was one of the most feared enforcers of the 80?s, and one of the best in Flyers history. Big Dave picked up 1,382 PIM in two stints with the team, ranking sixth on the franchise list. I do realize Peter
Forsberg played parts of two seasons with the Flyers but Brown played a much different, but bigger, role in the success of the team for a longer period of time.
Honorable Mention: Forsberg, Bill Flett
22. Rick Tocchet (1984-92; 99-02)
The sixth round pick in 1983 had quite a run in Philly. Tocchet is tied for 11th in franchise history with 232 goals and the all-time leader with 1,817 PIM. During the ?87 playoffs, the line of Tocchet, Propp and Eklund were absolutely unstoppable. #22 evolved from a grinder into a goal scorer and captain before being shipped to Pittsburgh. He later returned for a second stint after being acquired from Phoenix and helped the Flyers to a long playoff run in 2000.
Honorable Mention: Tom Gorence, Luke Richardson, Mike Knuble
23. Ilkka Sinisalo (1981-90)
In nine seasons in Philly, Sinisalo racked up 199 goals and 408 points. He became the third player in NHL history to score his first career goal on a penalty shot. The thing I may remember most about Sinisalo was an intermission feature PRISM did on him set to the Sade song, Smooth Operator. Weird, I know. Ilkka is back with the organization as a scout.
Honorable Mention: Alex Zhamnov, Petr Svoboda
24. Derrick Smith (1984-91)
Acquired as a third round pick in the 1983 draft that also netted Peter Zezel, Rick Tocchet and Pelle Eklund, Smith played seven seasons with the orange and black. Smith was a valuable grinder during the glory
days of the mid 80?s, but the two memories that stand out in my mind are when he picked the puck up out of the net after Ron Hextall scored his first goal at The Spectrum, and the amazing move on a breakaway to
beat Patrick Roy for a shorthanded goal in Game 1 of the 1989 Wales Conference Finals. Smith faked to his backhand and pulled the puck back to his forehand as Roy slid completely out of the crease.
Honorable Mention: Sami Kapanen
25. Keith Primeau (2000-05)
The Flyers traded Rod Brind?Amour to Carolina for Primeau in January 2000, the day the Rams beat the Bucs in the NFC Championship Game. Primeau was supposed to team with Eric Lindros to form hockey's version
of the twin towers.
That plan was obviously short-lived, but Primes made his own mark with the fans of Philadelphia. For a guy who was known for coming up small in the playoffs early in his career, Primeau ended up scoring some of the biggest postseason goals in recent Flyer history. Any Flyers fan remembers where they were on the night Primeau beat Ron Tugnutt in the fifth OT in Game 4 of the 2000 Eastern Conference semis.
The big captain shook off any notion that he wasn't a postseason performer with a run for the ages during the 2004 playoffs, registering 16 points in 18 games. Two moments that stand out are Game 5 against Toronto, when Primeau repeatedly torched Maple Leaf defenseman Bryan McCabe on his way to a hat trick and a 7-2 Flyer win. The other was his goal in Game 6 against the Lightning. Down 4-3, he tied it up with 1:49 left (video evidence) and Simon Gagne won it in OT. This may be the loudest I've ever heard the Wachovia Center and even though this will give me chills every time I hear it, I still cringe at the chicken dance music playing in the background. One of the best goals in recent Flyers history and they have to play this music since each fan won a free $1 chicken sandwich
when they scored four goals?. Awful.
Primeau's career ended prematurely due to concussions, the final one at coming in October 2005 at the age of 34 after and elbow from Montreal?s Alexander Perezhogin.
Honorable Mention: Keith Acton, Shjon Podein, Peter Zezel
26. Brian Propp (1979-90)
Drafted 14th overall by the Flyers from the Brandon Wheat Kings in the stacked 1979 Draft, Propp became a standout in Philadelphia for 11 seasons. He ended his career ranked second in goals and assists and
third in points on the Flyers all-time list. A guy Gene Hart used to call the "Brandon Bopper" Propp was a five-time all-star who appeared in three finals in orange and black. Propp guffawed his way to 369 goals for the Flyers and ranks behind only Bobby Clarke with 112 career playoffs points for Philadelphia. It?s strange that there isn't much talk about retiring his number 26.
Since Propp left town, the Flyers haven't given his number much justice, handing it out to such standouts as: Gord Hynes, Valeri Zelepukin, Viacheslav Butsayev, Rob Zettler, Jim Vandermeer, Phil
Crowe, Ruslan Fedotenko, and Martin Hostak.
Honorable Mention: Orest Kindrachuk, Michael Handzus
27. Ron Hextall (1986-92; 94-99)
Hexy revolutionized the goaltending position with his aggressiveness and puck handling skills. You couldn?t go to a rink in the late 80's and not see a kid playing goal with the number 27 on his back. One moment pretty much sums up Hextall for me?. On opening night of the 1986-87 season, the Flyers were hosting the Oilers and Hextall made his NHL debut. During a stoppage of play, Wayne Gretzky skated by the crease and said "Who the hell are you?" Hexy fired back, "Who the hell are YOU?!" How can you not love that? He is arguably the most popular Flyer of the last 30 years.
I can watch this video forever and not get sick of it?
Classic Hexy Canada Dry commercial...
Very Honorable Mention: Reggie Leach (1974-82)
The rifle was acquired from the California Seals five days after the Flyers won their first cup in '74, Reggie holds the club record with 61 goals in 1975-76, won the Conn Smythe that season, and is the only Flyer to be named MVP of an All-Star Game (1980).
28. Kjell Samuelsson (1986-92; 95-98)
Big Kjell spent two productive stints with the Flyers. First, he was acquired from the Rangers in December 1986 for disgruntled goalie Bob Froese. The 6-6 defenseman was the tallest player in NHL history at the time and spent the majority of his ice time paired with Mark Howe. A two-time winner of the Barry Ashbee Award as the Flyers' best defenseman, he was traded to Pittsburgh in the Mark Recchi deal in 1992. He then returned to Philly as a free agent prior to the 1995-96 campaign. Samuelsson is now in his ninth season on the Phantoms
coaching staff.
Honorable Mention: Claude Giroux looks like he could be the 28 Flyers fans remember for years to come.
29. Joel Otto (1995-98)
After 11 seasons with the Flames, Otto signed as a free agent with the Flyers in 1995. The hulking center was a defensive specialist and a beast on faceoffs. The Elk River MN, native represented the Flyers and the United States in the 1996 World Cup and 1998 Olympics. He also centered the Minnesota line with Shjon Podein and Trent Klatt.
Honorable Mention: 29 seems to be the number for mediocre defensemen: Yves Racine, Jack McIlhargy, Daryl Stanley, Randy Jones, Karl Dykhuis, Ryan McGill, Glen Cochrane, Nate Guenin, Terry Carkner
and Alexandre Picard have all worn the number at one time as Flyers blueliners.
30. Garth Snow (1995-98)
Aside from having the Sabres accuse Snow of wearing 2 x 4s on his shoulders under his jersey in the 1997 playoffs, maybe the best thing about him was the way Gary Dornhoeffer used to pronounce his name - Gooaltenndderr Gerttthh Snoah. Snow was a mini-Hextall: a battler who was never afraid to mix it up. In parts of three seasons in Philly, the Massachusetts native went 40-25-16 and 8-4 in the playoffs before being dealt to Vancouver for Sean Burke.
Honorable Mention: Although Bernie Parent began his Flyers career wearing #30, the number has basically been a staple for guys better known for opening and closing the door to the bench?.Antero Niittymaki, Bobby Taylor, Bruce Gamble, Rick St. Croix, Bruce Hoffort, Gary Inness, Tommy Soderstrom, and Darren Jensen.
21. Dave Brown (1982-89; 91-95)
Brownie was one of the most feared enforcers of the 80?s, and one of the best in Flyers history. Big Dave picked up 1,382 PIM in two stints with the team, ranking sixth on the franchise list. I do realize Peter
Forsberg played parts of two seasons with the Flyers but Brown played a much different, but bigger, role in the success of the team for a longer period of time.
Honorable Mention: Forsberg, Bill Flett
22. Rick Tocchet (1984-92; 99-02)
The sixth round pick in 1983 had quite a run in Philly. Tocchet is tied for 11th in franchise history with 232 goals and the all-time leader with 1,817 PIM. During the ?87 playoffs, the line of Tocchet, Propp and Eklund were absolutely unstoppable. #22 evolved from a grinder into a goal scorer and captain before being shipped to Pittsburgh. He later returned for a second stint after being acquired from Phoenix and helped the Flyers to a long playoff run in 2000.
Honorable Mention: Tom Gorence, Luke Richardson, Mike Knuble
23. Ilkka Sinisalo (1981-90)
In nine seasons in Philly, Sinisalo racked up 199 goals and 408 points. He became the third player in NHL history to score his first career goal on a penalty shot. The thing I may remember most about Sinisalo was an intermission feature PRISM did on him set to the Sade song, Smooth Operator. Weird, I know. Ilkka is back with the organization as a scout.
Honorable Mention: Alex Zhamnov, Petr Svoboda
24. Derrick Smith (1984-91)
Acquired as a third round pick in the 1983 draft that also netted Peter Zezel, Rick Tocchet and Pelle Eklund, Smith played seven seasons with the orange and black. Smith was a valuable grinder during the glory
days of the mid 80?s, but the two memories that stand out in my mind are when he picked the puck up out of the net after Ron Hextall scored his first goal at The Spectrum, and the amazing move on a breakaway to
beat Patrick Roy for a shorthanded goal in Game 1 of the 1989 Wales Conference Finals. Smith faked to his backhand and pulled the puck back to his forehand as Roy slid completely out of the crease.
Honorable Mention: Sami Kapanen
25. Keith Primeau (2000-05)
The Flyers traded Rod Brind?Amour to Carolina for Primeau in January 2000, the day the Rams beat the Bucs in the NFC Championship Game. Primeau was supposed to team with Eric Lindros to form hockey's version
of the twin towers.
That plan was obviously short-lived, but Primes made his own mark with the fans of Philadelphia. For a guy who was known for coming up small in the playoffs early in his career, Primeau ended up scoring some of the biggest postseason goals in recent Flyer history. Any Flyers fan remembers where they were on the night Primeau beat Ron Tugnutt in the fifth OT in Game 4 of the 2000 Eastern Conference semis.
The big captain shook off any notion that he wasn't a postseason performer with a run for the ages during the 2004 playoffs, registering 16 points in 18 games. Two moments that stand out are Game 5 against Toronto, when Primeau repeatedly torched Maple Leaf defenseman Bryan McCabe on his way to a hat trick and a 7-2 Flyer win. The other was his goal in Game 6 against the Lightning. Down 4-3, he tied it up with 1:49 left (video evidence) and Simon Gagne won it in OT. This may be the loudest I've ever heard the Wachovia Center and even though this will give me chills every time I hear it, I still cringe at the chicken dance music playing in the background. One of the best goals in recent Flyers history and they have to play this music since each fan won a free $1 chicken sandwich
when they scored four goals?. Awful.
Primeau's career ended prematurely due to concussions, the final one at coming in October 2005 at the age of 34 after and elbow from Montreal?s Alexander Perezhogin.
Honorable Mention: Keith Acton, Shjon Podein, Peter Zezel
26. Brian Propp (1979-90)
Drafted 14th overall by the Flyers from the Brandon Wheat Kings in the stacked 1979 Draft, Propp became a standout in Philadelphia for 11 seasons. He ended his career ranked second in goals and assists and
third in points on the Flyers all-time list. A guy Gene Hart used to call the "Brandon Bopper" Propp was a five-time all-star who appeared in three finals in orange and black. Propp guffawed his way to 369 goals for the Flyers and ranks behind only Bobby Clarke with 112 career playoffs points for Philadelphia. It?s strange that there isn't much talk about retiring his number 26.
Since Propp left town, the Flyers haven't given his number much justice, handing it out to such standouts as: Gord Hynes, Valeri Zelepukin, Viacheslav Butsayev, Rob Zettler, Jim Vandermeer, Phil
Crowe, Ruslan Fedotenko, and Martin Hostak.
Honorable Mention: Orest Kindrachuk, Michael Handzus
27. Ron Hextall (1986-92; 94-99)
Hexy revolutionized the goaltending position with his aggressiveness and puck handling skills. You couldn?t go to a rink in the late 80's and not see a kid playing goal with the number 27 on his back. One moment pretty much sums up Hextall for me?. On opening night of the 1986-87 season, the Flyers were hosting the Oilers and Hextall made his NHL debut. During a stoppage of play, Wayne Gretzky skated by the crease and said "Who the hell are you?" Hexy fired back, "Who the hell are YOU?!" How can you not love that? He is arguably the most popular Flyer of the last 30 years.
I can watch this video forever and not get sick of it?
Classic Hexy Canada Dry commercial...
Very Honorable Mention: Reggie Leach (1974-82)
The rifle was acquired from the California Seals five days after the Flyers won their first cup in '74, Reggie holds the club record with 61 goals in 1975-76, won the Conn Smythe that season, and is the only Flyer to be named MVP of an All-Star Game (1980).
28. Kjell Samuelsson (1986-92; 95-98)
Big Kjell spent two productive stints with the Flyers. First, he was acquired from the Rangers in December 1986 for disgruntled goalie Bob Froese. The 6-6 defenseman was the tallest player in NHL history at the time and spent the majority of his ice time paired with Mark Howe. A two-time winner of the Barry Ashbee Award as the Flyers' best defenseman, he was traded to Pittsburgh in the Mark Recchi deal in 1992. He then returned to Philly as a free agent prior to the 1995-96 campaign. Samuelsson is now in his ninth season on the Phantoms
coaching staff.
Honorable Mention: Claude Giroux looks like he could be the 28 Flyers fans remember for years to come.
29. Joel Otto (1995-98)
After 11 seasons with the Flames, Otto signed as a free agent with the Flyers in 1995. The hulking center was a defensive specialist and a beast on faceoffs. The Elk River MN, native represented the Flyers and the United States in the 1996 World Cup and 1998 Olympics. He also centered the Minnesota line with Shjon Podein and Trent Klatt.
Honorable Mention: 29 seems to be the number for mediocre defensemen: Yves Racine, Jack McIlhargy, Daryl Stanley, Randy Jones, Karl Dykhuis, Ryan McGill, Glen Cochrane, Nate Guenin, Terry Carkner
and Alexandre Picard have all worn the number at one time as Flyers blueliners.
30. Garth Snow (1995-98)
Aside from having the Sabres accuse Snow of wearing 2 x 4s on his shoulders under his jersey in the 1997 playoffs, maybe the best thing about him was the way Gary Dornhoeffer used to pronounce his name - Gooaltenndderr Gerttthh Snoah. Snow was a mini-Hextall: a battler who was never afraid to mix it up. In parts of three seasons in Philly, the Massachusetts native went 40-25-16 and 8-4 in the playoffs before being dealt to Vancouver for Sean Burke.
Honorable Mention: Although Bernie Parent began his Flyers career wearing #30, the number has basically been a staple for guys better known for opening and closing the door to the bench?.Antero Niittymaki, Bobby Taylor, Bruce Gamble, Rick St. Croix, Bruce Hoffort, Gary Inness, Tommy Soderstrom, and Darren Jensen.
