Philadelphia Flyers: 50 Greatest Players in Franchise History
The Philadelphia Flyers franchise has been the home to many NHL greats.
Being that the Flyers organization is so rich in history and tradition, there have been a number of players that have called Philadelphia home and then got another call for Toronto to be their home for the history books as well.
Two Stanley Cup Championships, eight Conference Championships and 15 Division Titles decorate the Flyers history books since their inception into the NHL back in 1967.
This slideshow will show the 50 greatest players to ever play for the Philadelphia Flyers. These players showed the true meaning of putting on the orange and black sweater.
50. Lou Angotti
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Lou Angotti was the Flyer that started it all.
Angotti was named the first team captain in the history of the franchise in 1967.
While only playing for one season with the team, he started the rich and storied tradition of those that wore the "C" for the orange and black.
49. Robert Kelly
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Along with David Schultz, Robert Kelly was one of the top enforcers on the Broad Street Bullies team of the 70s.
Kelly played 10 seasons with the club. In that span, Kelly scored 296 points while accumulating almost 1,300 penalty minutes.
48. Per-Erik Eklund
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Per-Erik Eklund was a Swedish playmaker for the Flyers for nine seasons.
He came into the league leading all rookies with 51 assists.
The highlight of Eklund's tenure with the Flyers has to be his 1986-1987 season when he led the team to the Stanley Cup Finals.
That postseason, Eklund recorded 27 points in 26 games.
47. Joe Watson
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Joe Watson is another Flyer who has a long history with the club.
Watson ranks fifth on the all-time games played list with 746.
Very small in stature (5'10" 165 pounds) Watson scored 198 points in his career with the team.
46. Bill Clement
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OK, so Bill Clement is better known as a great announcer, not a great Flyer.
Although not an everyday player, Clement won two rings with the Flyers in 1974 and 1975.
He had 53 goals in four seasons for the club.
45. Ed Van Impe
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Ed Van Impe was another member of the glory days and the Broad Street Bullies of the 1970s.
Van Impe was the team's captain from 1968-1973.
He was the essence of a Flyers Broad Street Bully, using his body to toss opponents around the ice.
44. Michal Handzus
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Michal Handzus is the first modern Flyer to make the list.
He played three seasons with the team and notched 146 points over that span.
Handzus, known for his long hair, was a gritty forward who was great on the penalty kill.
43. Darryl Sittler
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In only three seasons with the Flyers, Darryl Sittler recorded 178 points.
He was an All-Star in 1982 and was in line to be the next team captain.
He never got that opportunity and retired.
42. Andre Dupont
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Andre Dupont was a part of the back to back Stanley Cups for the Flyers in 1974-1975.
He was the team's enforcer on the blue line.
He is third all-time in Flyers history with 1,505 penalty minutes.
41. Chris Therien
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Chris Therien is one of the longest tenured Flyers in team history.
His 753 games for the club ranks him fourth on the all-time list.
Therien was a big defensemen that put his 6'5" 235 pound frame to good use.
40. Claude Giroux
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10 years from now, Claude Giroux may be in the top five on this list.
For now, he is at 40.
In his first full season with the club last year, Giroux impressed by scoring 16 goals.
He is quickly climbing up the Flyers all-time points list.
39. Jeff Carter
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Jeff Carter is another young gun who could move up on this list with a great career.
Only 26-years old, Carter is already 15th on the all-time goals list for the franchise.
Carter is a dynamic speed skater who has an unbelievably quick shot.
38. Mikael Renberg
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Mikael Renberg was an immediate success for the Flyers as soon as he was drafted.
He set the Flyers record for most points scored by a rookie in a season with 82 points.
He was part of the feared line that include Eric Lindros and John LeClair.
37. John Vanbiesbrouck
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No I did not forget about the net minders.
Even though John Vanbiesbrouck played for the Flyers after his prime days with Florida, he still put up great numbers for the team in his two seasons.
He won 52 games and had a 2.19 goals against average.
36. David Poulin
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David Poulin was the sixth captain in Flyers history.
He played 467 games for the franchise.
He is on the top 20 all-time points list for Philadelphia.
35. Paul Holmgren
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Paul Holmgren is recently known as the Flyers GM who saved the franchise.
He was also known as the Flyers penalty guy for the nine seasons he played for them.
He is second on the all-time penalty minutes list.
34. Peter Zezel
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For five seasons, the young Peter Zezel impressed many.
Zezel set the team record for rookie assists in a season by setting up 46 goals.
He was part of a very young Flyers team that surprisingly made it to the Stanley Cup Finals.
33. Derian Hatcher
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Another big defensive enforcer for the Flyers was Derian Hatcher.
Hatcher was still a great big bodied defensemen even after his prime years with Dallas.
Hatcher's tenure with the Flyers is forgotten because of the team's poor play during his stay in Philly.
32. Brian Boucher
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As a rookie, Brian Boucher helped the Flyers to an Atlantic Division title and an appearance in the Stanley Cup.
He led the league in goals against average in his rookie campaign and will ever be remembered for his save against Patrick Elias.
Boooooosh!
31. Ronald Sutter
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Ronald Sutter sits at No. 20 on the Flyers all time points list.
He played eight seasons for the orange and black.
30. Peter Forsberg
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Peter Forsberg's career as a Flyer was short-lived due to his nagging injuries.
When he did play, Forsberg produced and was still one of the best players in the NHL.
In 100 games for Philly, he had 115 points.
29. Mel Bridgman
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Mel Bridgman was the Flyers' fourth captain in team history.
He had pretty big shoes to fill after he took over for Flyers legend Bobby Clarke.
Bridgman did his best. He scored 119 goals in seven seasons with the team.
28. Danny Briere
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When Danny Briere has been healthy, he has been as advertised.
He has 100 goals in just three seasons with the Flyers.
He is most remembered for his tremendous 2010 playoffs where he tallied 30 points in 23 games.
27. Murray Craven
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Murray Craven ranks in the top 20 on the Flyers all-time goals and assists list.
He led the Flyers to a Stanley Cup appearance in 1987.
He had a 50 assist season in 1990.
26. David Ross Lonsberry
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David Ross Lonsberry had the best seasons of his career as a Philadelphia Flyer.
He was part of the back to back Championship teams.
He scored 13 playoff points in the 1974 run to the Stanley Cup.
25. Kimmo Timonen
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Kimmo Timonen has manned the Flyers blue line since 2007.
Timonen has been named an All-Star four different seasons.
He has contributed to being a member one of the best defensive lineups in Flyers history.
24. Tom Bladon
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Tom Bladon is another two-time Stanley Cup winner with Philadelphia.
His most impressive stat as a Flyer came during the 1977 season.
Bladon scored four goals and recorded four assists for an eight point game.
23. Eric Desjardins
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Eric Desjardins ranks in the top 10 of games played with the franchise.
Desjardins emerged as a team leader after the Flyers were left desperately looking for a captain after Eric Lindros.
Desjardins ranks 12th on the Flyers in assists.
22. Gary Dornhoefer
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Gary Dornhoefer is in the top 15 all-time in goals and assists for the Flyers.
The statue of him scoring a 1973 Stanley Cup game winning goal was erected at the Spectrum.
He played 14 seasons in the NHL. They were all for the orange and black.
21. Ilkka Sinisalo
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Ilkka Sinisalo ranks as the leading European scorer in Flyers history with 199 goals.
He also added 209 assists in nine seasons with the club.
20. Chris Pronger
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The impact that Chris Pronger has on a team is unmeasurable.
Since Pronger came to Philly, he has turned the club into a Cup contender every year.
His play to help the Flyers make it to the Stanley Cup last year gets him on this list.
19. Tim Kerr
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An undrafted player, Tim Kerr overachieved his entire career.
He had four 50-goal seasons for the Flyers.
He is third on the all-time goals list.
18. Simon Gagne
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It must have been hard for Flyers fans to see Simon Gagne go this offseason.
Gagne grew up through the Flyers organization and played at the NHL level for 10 seasons.
He ranks 10th on the Flyers all-time points list.
17. Pelle Lindbergh
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Pelle Lindbergh was one of the Flyers great young goalies.
He had a promising career ahead of him after he was named to the all-rookie team and was named an All-Star.
He tragically died in a car accident in the prime of his career.
16. Rick Tocchet
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Rick Tocchet is another player that epitomizes being the Flyers captain.
Tocchet was a physical forward who was never afraid to drop the gloves.
He ranks 13th on the Flyers all-time points list.
15. Mike Richards
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By the end of his career, Mike Richards may go down as the best Flyer to ever wear the orange and black sweater.
Richards is the ideal captain for the physical Flyers club.
He already ranks 22nd on the Flyers all-time scoring list.
14. Keith Primeau
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Keith Primeau was one of the greatest captains in team history.
Primeau was an enforcer who carried the Flyers for six seasons.
He is most remembered for his game winning goal in the 2000 playoffs when he scored in the fifth OT against Pittsburgh.
13. Mark Recchi
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Mark Recchi was the 2000s version of Danny Briere for the Flyers.
He was small in stature, but large in heart. He left everything he had on the ice.
He was a great play maker and a good scorer.
He is fourth on the Flyers all-time assists list.
12. Jeremy Roenick
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Jeremy Roenick just misses the top 10 here.
In only three seasons with the Flyers, Roenick had 173 points and was an All-Star.
Roenick was embraced by the Philly fans due to his hard-nosed play on and off the ice.
11. Rick MacLeish
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Rick MacLeish was one of the great scorers in Flyers history.
He played 12 seasons in Philadelphia and ranks fourth in points on the Flyers All-Time list.
He reached 100 points in the 1973 season.
10. John LeClair
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John LeClair teamed up with Eric Lindros and Mikael Renberg for one of the best lines in hockey in the 90s.
LeClair was a fan favorite in Philly for 10 seasons.
He tallied 50 goals in three straight seasons from 1995-1998.
9. Mark Howe
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Mark Howe did not live up to his father's skill level, but was not too far behind.
Howe was a great defensemen who had the ability to score as well.
He was a runner-up three times for the Norris Trophy.
8. Reggie Leach
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Reggie Leach and the LCB line dominated in the 1970s. The trio led their club to two straight Stanley Cups.
He ranks seventh all-time in Flyers history for scoring 306 goals.
He scored 61 goals in 1976.
7. Rod Brind'Amour
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Rod Brind'Amour is a legend in Flyers history.
He was one of the best defensive C in the league while with the Flyers.
He holds the franchise record for playing in 484 straight games.
Many fans showed their support in Carolina this year when his jersey was retired.
6. Brian Propp
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Brian Propp scored the game winning goal in his first game as a Flyer. It was a sign of good things to come.
It was not until his 11th season in the league where he did not record more than 65 points.
He is second on the Flyers all-time goals list.
5. Eric Lindros
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If Eric Lindros remained with the Flyers for the rest of his career, he would have been No. 1 on this list.
Concussions limited Lindros to only eight seasons with the Flyers.
Those were eight very good seasons though.
He ranks fifth in points on the Flyers all-time list.
4. Ron Hextall
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Ron Hextall is the Flyers all-time wins leader with 240 victories.
Hextall became a fan favorite in Philly because of his aggressive play and winning pedigree.
In his first year, he was the winner of the Vezina Trophy, which was given to the NHL's best goaltender.
3. Bill Barber
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Bill Barber was part of the two championship Flyers team during the 70s.
He is the best LW in Flyers history.
He is second to only Bobby Clarke in career points for the Flyers with 883.
Barber is the Flyers all-time leading goal scorer, scoring 420 goals from 1972-1984 with the club.
2. Bernie Parent
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Easily Bernie Parent is the top goalie in Flyers history.
He even is one of the best goaltenders in NHL history.
Bernie Parent led the club to their two Stanley Cups in '74 and '75. In those two years, Parent had two of the most amazing seasons ever by a goalie.
Parent was 91-27-22 with a 1.96 GAA. He led the league in shutouts over that span with 24.
1. Bobby Clarke
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When anyone thinks of the Flyers as a franchise, Bobby Clarke stands out among the rest of the greats that wore the orange and black.
Clarke was the Flyers leader and captain through the team's best years in franchise history.
He is the all-time Flyers points leader with 1,210. Bill Barber, who is second, is over 300 points behind him.
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