Philadelphia Flyers: 10 Numbers That Could Be Retired Next

On Tuesday night, the Philadelphia Flyers sent their fifth jersey number to the rafters of the Wells Fargo Center. Following defenseman Mark Howe’s inducting into the Hockey Hall of Fame, the organization made the choice to retire Howe’s No. 2, joining an elite group of men whose names and numbers watch over the Flyers during every home game.

Only Howe (2), Bill Barber (7), Bernie Parent (1), Barry Ashbee (4) and Bobby Clarke (16) have been bestowed with the honor in the course of Flyers history, with all except Ashbee being members of the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Clearly, the tribute is one that the Flyers do not pass out flippantly, but the storied franchise has had a number of ultra-talented players come through the City of Brotherly Love over the years.

It can be fun to speculate who the next player to see his jersey rise to the rafters will be. It could be a player from the distant past, someone who hasn’t been retired long or even someone whose career is just beginning.

Here are 10 Flyers most likely to have their numbers retired next.

Honorable Mention: No. 31 (Pelle Lindbergh)

The tragic story of Pelle Lindbergh has been told time and time again and does not need to be retold here. However, the impact of that tragedy is a testament to the bright future Lindbergh seemed to have and the influence that his untimely death had on the city of Philadelphia.

Lindbergh seemed to be a rising star in the years leading up to his death at 26, and he was assumed to become the franchise’s best goalie since Bernie Parent.

The Pelle Lindbergh Memorial Award is an award given out by the Flyers annually to the most improved player on the team, a tribute to Lindbergh’s young success. Players like John LeClair, Simon Gagne and Justin Williams have all won the award.

Lindbergh’s No. 31 has not been officially retired, but no player has worn the jersey since his death. While this unspoken tribute may be most appropriate for a city that doesn’t wish to discuss one of its darkest days in history, the possibility that Lindbergh could forever be enshrined over the ice at the Wells Fargo Center is one the franchise may consider in the coming years.

No. 17: Rod Brind'Amour

Most of the players on this list could have their jerseys retired because of their career stat line, among other things.

On statistics alone, Rod Brind’Amour would probably not have his number retired by the Philadelphia Flyers. Not that his numbers are something scoff at: Brindy totaled 601 career points in parts of nine seasons with Philadelphia. In 10 seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes, he put up 473 career points.

Despite scoring fewer points in more time, Brind’Amour’s number has been retired by the Hurricanes, but not the Flyers. Brind’Amour’s stats as a Flyer are seemingly supplemented by the fact that he has been honored in another city, as well as Philadelphia’s unending love for the player. He is considered one of the ultimate fan favorites in the city, even years after departing from the Flyers.

His No. 17 is now being worn by a similarly hard-nosed forward in Wayne Simmonds, but when you see a No. 17 jersey in the stands at the Wells Fargo Center, there’s still a good chance it is going to say Brind’Amour on the back.

No. 19: Rick MacLeish

Rick MacLeish seems like the odd man out.

The rafters of the Wells Fargo Center feature an array of jerseys of MacLeish’s former teammates, yet his No. 19 is missing. He was a major part of the team’s two Stanley Cup victories, notching 22 and 20 points in the 1974 and 1975 playoffs, respectively.

MacLeish was no slouch in the regular season, either. His 697 career points put him behind only Bobby Clarke, Bill Barber and Brian Propp on Philadelphia’s all-time scoring list. He played a total of 12 seasons as a Flyer.

Perhaps the fact that MacLeish played alongside the greatest Flyers in history makes it difficult to fully appreciate his contributions. But the fact that his No. 19 has not been retired is either an oversight or a testament to how truly exclusive that honor is in the City of Brotherly Love.

No. 10: John LeClair

Less dangerous but more reliable than his Legion of Doom linemate Eric Lindros, John LeClair was one of the most recognizable names in Philadelphia sports for 10 seasons from 1994-95 to 2003-04.

LeClair totaled 90 or more points and 50 or more goals three times each, and his three consecutive 50-goal campaigns made him the first American-born player to accomplish the feat. His 643 points as a Flyer are good enough for seventh on the team’s all-time list.

Juxtaposed with the drama surrounding Lindros, LeClair seemed to be the epitome of character, a hard-working team player with a passion for the game and an apparent disdain for media games and front-office confrontations. In a time period that seemed focused on Lindros, for better or for worse, LeClair managed to be the most important part of Flyers hockey.

A Stanley Cup is the only thing missing from LeClair’s Flyers resume, but otherwise, No. 10 is surely worthy of a spot among the greats.

No. 12: Tim Kerr

Tim Kerr played 11 of his 13 NHL seasons with the Flyers during the 1980s and early 1990s. He became one of the franchise’s most reliable goal-scorers in the years following the Broad Street Bullies, while the Flyers struggled to find a new identity.

Kerr scored more than 50 goals in four consecutive seasons from 1983-84 to 1986-87, making him the only player in team history with that many 50-goal seasons. He scored 363 of his 370 career goals with the Flyers.

Kerr also holds the NHL record for most power-play goals in a season (34), making him one of very few players to hold a scoring record and not be named Wayne Gretzky. Despite an injury-plagued career that was cut short and riddled with hardship, Kerr scored 650 points as a Flyer, good for sixth on the team’s all-time list, while his 363 goals put him third.

Many players have worn Kerr’s No. 12 since his retirement, including Simon Gagne, which takes away from the number’s iconic status. Nonetheless, Kerr’s unlikely but incredible career as a Flyer warrants a second look at retiring his jersey.

No. 8: Mark Recchi

Mark Recchi is well known as the ultimate journeyman NHLer. His illustrious career took him through seven NHL teams and notched him 1,533 career points. No player with more points has played for nearly as many NHL teams.

Recchi won the Stanley Cup with three teams (Pittsburgh, Carolina and Boston), but the hardware earned in those cities doesn’t fully capture his glory. Recchi played for no team longer than he played for Philadelphia during his two stints as a Flyer, from 1992 to 1994 and 1999 through 2004.

In that time, Recchi registered 627 points in 602 games, including three 90-plus point seasons and two 100-plus points seasons. He set a career high with a whopping 123 points in 1992-93, a mark that has not been matched in any season since.

During years that saw Eric Lindros and John LeClair as the focus of the Flyers, Recchi consistently proved to be the most reliable and valuable player, avoiding off-ice drama and keeping the team competitive. While he was rarely the focus of the team, Recchi seemed to be the example coaches wanted their players to follow, a trait he carried with him throughout his career.

His No. 8 may not be as distinctly iconic as some others, but Mark Recchi remains one of the most highly thought-of Flyers in the team’s history. The only thing missing from his Philadelphia resume is a Stanley Cup, something he achieved in three other cities. Otherwise, Recchi would be a legend in the City of Brotherly Love.

No. 27: Ron Hextall

There is a reason that every Flyers goaltender finds himself compared to Ron Hextall.

From Brian Boucher and Roman Cechmanek to Antero Niittymaki and Ilya Bryzgalov, the Flyers have found netminding to be at the center of every hockey conversation since Hextall’s retirement in 1999. Hextall played parts of 11 seasons for the Flyers, becoming a saving grace for the Flyers after their rising star, Pelle Lindbergh, died in 1985.

Hextall turned out to be a near-perfect combination of attitude and talent, keeping the Flyers competitive for years with consistent save percentages and goals-against averages. While his numbers didn’t match the great goalies of the ‘80s and ‘90s, Hextall won both a Vezina Trophy and a Conn Smythe Trophy (on the losing team) in 1987, proving that pressure was no factor for this tough-as-nails netminder.

Flyers fans will forever remember him for his beatdown of Montreal’s Chris Chelios in retaliation for a hit on Brian Propp during the 1989 playoffs, and they will forever compare starting goaltenders to Hexy until someone else shows his consistency.

No. 26: Brian Propp

Brian Propp may be at a disadvantage.

Propp played for the Flyers during their most difficult time period, from the 1979-80 season to 1989-90. These were the days after Bobby Clarke and the Broad Street Bullies, but before Eric Lindros and the Legion of Doom. The Flyers were competitive but unsuccessful, and while he played alongside superstars like Mark Howe and Tim Kerr, Propp likely did not get recognized for the full extent of his abilities.

Those misreads are best represented by the fact that Propp is only one of three Flyers to break the 700-point barrier in his career, amassing 849 points as a Flyer before being traded. Only Bill Barber and Bobby Clarke, both of whom have their numbers retired, have more points than Propp.

As one of the franchise’s top scorers, even from a less glorious era, Propp deserves to have his No. 26 retired from the Flyers. It is a testament to a player’s abilities, whether a team is completely successful or not.

No. 88: Eric Lindros

If you don’t count the off-the-ice stuff, Eric Lindros might be the greatest Flyer since Bobby Clarke.

Unfortunately, his disputes with the front office, prima donna nature and concussion issues made Lindros a controversial figure in Philadelphia sports for over a decade. He sat out an entire season because of personal issues with the team’s management, eventually talked his way into a trade to the hated New York Rangers and was remembered bitterly by the public until he agreed to make an appearance for the team in the 2011-12 Winter Classic ceremonies.

With all the complications, it is difficult to remember that the Flyers gave up size players, two first-round picks and cash for a shot at making Lindros their future. And complications aside, he did not disappoint. Lindros is the last Flyer to win the Hart Trophy and was the dominant force in the league for nearly a decade.

His unique No. 88 was recognized by every fanbase, and he was always considered a major threat on the ice. Lindros’s 865 career points in 760 games are remarkable, but that accomplishment is exceeded only by disappointment. The 245-pound center seemed capable of a longer, more successful career.

Retiring Lindros’ jersey would be a tribute to the collective success of the Flyers teams of the ‘90s, when the Legion of Doom and company brought hockey pride back to Philadelphia. Lindros’ career will always be remember with a tinge of disappointment, but one can never argue with the fact that he was one of Philadelphia’s greats.

No. 37: Eric Desjardins

Eric Desjardins may find himself to be the epitome of a Flyers defenseman for years to come.

The reliable defenseman notched more than 30 points in seven of his 11 seasons as a Flyer and was a perennial part of the Philadelphia blue line since the team acquired him and John LeClair in exchange for Mark Recchi in 1995. His offensive abilities would get him noticed, but his consistency in his own zone would make Desjardins a staple of the Flyers in the late 90s and early 2000s, when the team seemed to have its best chance at a Stanley Cup since the Bobby Clarke era.

In his 11 seasons, Desjardins won seven Barry Ashbee Trophies as the team’s best defenseman, a Flyers record. To put it in perspective, Mark Howe, whose number was retired on Wednesday, won only four Barry Ashbee Trophies.

On teams that were dominated by Eric Lindros, Ron Hextall, John LeClair and Mark Recchi, Desjardins seemed to be the most consistent and reliable figure. He was never traded away from the franchise. He played in more than 65 games in all but his last two seasons as a Flyer, and he was regularly treated as the team’s captain when Lindros seemed to be unable to deal with the pressure.

Desjardins was perhaps never appreciated for the extent of his abilities on and off the ice, but he remains one of the most heralded Flyers of all-time.

No. 28: Claude Giroux

A little foresight never hurt anyone.

Giroux is, of course, still very young and is in the midst of his breakout season. As the team has seen with players from Eric Lindros to Mike Richards, a lot can happen over the course of a career to derail a player from a shot at glory.

Nonetheless, having one’s number retired as a Flyer is an exclusive club. It is possible that all the other players on this list have had their shot, and the next number to be raised to the rafters will come off the back of someone still wearing the orange and black.

If that is the case, Giroux seems to have the most potential. His 2011-12 campaign has already set a career high in points, and he has spent much of the year near the top of the league’s scoring race.

In order to have his No. 28 retired, Giroux will need to consistently compete with the likes of Steven Stamkos, Sidney Crosby and other stars for the scoring title and the Hart Trophy. He will have to be the face of the Flyers franchise for years and keep the team competitive.

But most of all, Giroux may need to win a Stanley Cup. That seems to be one of the merits required for a spot in the rafters. Four of the five players whose numbers have been retired won a Cup. Four of the five were also inducted into the Hall of Fame.

This is a tall order for Giroux. The team is in the midst of its 36th season since its last championship, and the city is as hungry as ever.

Giroux is still years and years away from being in a conversation with Ashbee, Barber, Howe, Parent and Clarke. But hockey in Philadelphia is always about taking things to the next level, and Giroux is being groomed as the next great player in the City of Brotherly Love.