Earlier today, my brother and I were talking. And, as usually happens at some point in our conversations, the topic turned to hockey. More specifically, the Philadelphia Flyers. My brother pondered, that if you created a list of numbers, what players would you associate with each number? And how would the names attached to those numbers change across the generations of Flyers fans. For the record, my brother and I are separated by 8 years. I’m curious to see how his answers differ from my own.
Now it must be noted that this is not a list that will rank the best players to wear a particular number. Rather, this is a sort of word association of the Flyers all time roster. Some names are constants, others may be remembered infamously, but all of them will be sure to move the conversation forward.
So, without further adieu. Here is my list:
1- Bernie Parent- This is the first of those constants. After all, only the Lord saves more than Bernie.
2- Mark Howe- Arguably the best defenseman to put on a Flyers sweater.
3- Gord Murphy- Maybe not a household name. But Murphy was a steady defenseman on some bad Flyers teams.
4- Barry Ashbee- Maybe better remembered by younger generations for his eye injury and being the reason for the annual Flyers Wives Fight For Lives Carnival.
5- Kerry Huffman- I spent much of my pre-teen years wondering why he was so highly touted. Huffman might be best remembered as one of the players involved in the 1992 Eric Lindros trade.
6- Andre “Moose” Dupont- Although before my time, you can’t miss with a nickname like “Moose”
7- Bill Barber- The second of our constants.
8- Mark Recchi- In two separate stints with the Flyers, Mark Recchi has worked his way near the top of many Flyers all time scoring lists.
9- Pelle Eklund- Maybe I’m just reaching back into my youth, but Eklund was a very productive forward in the late 80s.
10- John LeClair- LeClair came to the Flyers with unfulfilled potential. But his time spent in Orange and Black made him a household name for many years.
11- Mark Recchi- Yes he appears on this list twice. Upon his return to the Flyers, his customary #8 was taken.
12- Tim Kerr- Kerr anchored the Flyers offense in the mid 80s and made a living scoring power play goals. Plagued by injuries, many Flyers fans still wonder if the 1987 Stanley Cup Finals might have ended differently if Kerr was healthy.
13- Dan Carcillo- Athletes tend to be superstitious, and a little research shows that only four players have ever worn this number for the Flyers. For me, “The Stash” came to mind first.
14- Ron Sutter- One of the better two way forwards in Flyers history. Sutter made a career being the thorn in the side of the other team’s best forward.
15- JJ Daigneault- If you were a Flyers fan in the mid 80s, than you know this name. this goal, Game 6, 1987 , is one of the more famous in Flyers history. If Game 7 ended differently, a statue of this goal may have gone up outside of the Spectrum alongside Gary Dornhoefer.
16- Bobby Clark- Do I even need to explain this one?
17- Rod Brind’Amour- A highly underrated player, Brind’Amour was a quality presence for a long time for the Orange and Black
18- Mike Richards- The current Flyers Captain often draws comparisons to the eternal face of the franchise. Gritty and determined, Richards embodies what it means to be a Flyer.
19- Mikael Renberg- While probably not the most favorite of fans to wear this number (MacLeish, Mellanby), he came to mind first because of his role in the revival of the franchise in the mid 90s. Also, he was one third of the aptly named and dominant Legion Of Doom line.
20- Dave Poulin- Another great captain, Poulin did all of the little things the right way and always put the team first.
21- Dave Brown- The “Tough Guy” of my youth. Brown was the man who carried the Broad Street Bullies lineage into the mid 80s.
22- Rick Tocchet- Initially known more for his fists than his scoring ability, Tocchet became the Flyers leading scorer in a time when they needed someone to step up and carry the team.
23- Ilkka Sinisalo- This has nothing to do with ability. This is all about one of the coolest hockey names ever (Here that Hanken Loob, you’ve got company).
24- Derrick Smith- Again, just a player that stood out from my childhood.
25- Keith Primeau- Before his career was ended prematurely by concussions, Primeau helped bridge the gap from the volatile end of the Lindros era to the modest success of the early Twenty-first century. Oh yeah, there’s also the 5 OT Game Winner.
26- Brian Propp- A member of the team that had a record 35 game unbeaten streak, Propp had a prolific career as a Flyer throughout the 80s
27- Ron Hextall- Being the first goalie to score a goal wasn’t the only thing that helped Hextall become a fan favorite. His demeanor fit in well with the Flyers notorious reputation across the league. But he was also a terrific goaltender. His stick handling ability would change the way hockey would be played in the years to come.
28- Claude Giroux- Giroux breaks the mold of the prototypical Flyer. Soft hands and an incredible scoring touch, he may be the most talented player on the Flyers current roster. And when it’s all said and done, he’ll probably be near the top of a lot of record books too.
29- Terry Carkner-Another of those infamous players. Carkner’s name was called a lot during Flyers broadcasts, but never for the right reasons.
30- Bruce Hoffort- OK. I know this is obscure. Back in 1991, on a family trip to see the Flyers play in Quebec, I was able to get onto the Flyers bench during practice and secure Hoffort’s game stick. When I approached him to autograph it, he explained that it was his game stick and that he would need it back. He returned to the locker room and emerged moments later with a new stick, which he signed for me. I still have the stick.
31- Pelle Lindbergh- What could have been. The Flyers lost Lindbergh in a tragic car accident. While we wonder what may have been for the team. We fret more about the loss of such a vibrant individual.
32- Murray Craven- Once more, no particular reason. Just a player from my younger days that stands out.
33- Brian Boucher- Boucher came up and led the Flyers on a memorable Playoff run in the spring of 2000. After spending many years adrift in the NHL, he has returned to Philly and has found a role once again with the Flyers.
34- John Vanbiesbrouck- I’m still not sure how Toronto scored from all those bad angles in the first round of the 1999 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Another, in a long line of Goaltending disappointments for the franchise.
35- Sergei Bobrovsky- In 2010, it finally seems the Flyers have resolved their seemingly endless goaltender search.
36- Darrol Powe- A roll player on the current roster, Powe has proven to be a solid NHL player.
37- Eric Dejardins- Second only to Mark Howe on the all-time Flyers defenseman list. He was an example of consistency during his tenure in Philly.
I stopped the list here because the numbers sort of drop to a trickle after this. There are some obvious outliers, but they really arent open to debate because of the rarity of their use. they are: 42- Robert Esche; 43- Marty Biron; 44- Kimmo Timonen (Yeah, I remember Janne Niinimaa. I remember Darren McCarty too. Want to keep rubbing salt in that wound?); 48- Danny Briere; 77- Paul Coffee (I’ve blocked Adam Oates and Chris Gratton from my hockey memory); and of course, 88- Eric Lindros.
There you have it. My list of Flyers, by the numbers. What do you think? More importantly, tell me the first name that pops into YOUR head.
-Mike Tursi
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