Philadelphia Flyers: 6 Best Offseasons in Flyers History

For years, the Philadelphia Flyers have been known for developing their young talent and rarely making a huge splash in the offseason.

However, more recently, the Flyers have seemed to dive deeper into their pockets to secure some stars on the market. Not only are the Flyers still developing their farm system, they are also going outside the organization to get some help.

This offseason, the Flyers might need to make another splash by finding another goalie or goal scorer in free agency. They are a great team, but they need someone to get them over the hump.

Thinking ahead to the future, here are some of the best offseasons the Flyers have had in the past 10 years.

6. 2001 Offseason

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TAMPA, FL - MAY 18: Jeremy Roenick #97 of the Philadelphia Flyers checks Cory Sarich #21 of the Tampa Bay Lightning into the boards in game five of the NHL Eastern Conference Finals during the Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 18, 2004 at the St. Pete Times Fo

A changing of the guard occurred in 2001 for the Philadelphia Flyers organization: Eric Lindros was finally traded away in a four-player deal. An era was over.

With the trade of Lindros, the team was able to acquire Kim Johnsson, who was one of the Flyers best defenseman throughout the decade.

Not only did the Flyers do that, but they also resigned their other leader, John LeClair. Perhaps their biggest move of the year was signing Jeremy Roenick to a multi-year deal. Roenick was the heart and soul of the Flyers for the next couple of years. The fans loved him.

5. 2007 Offseason

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PHILADELPHIA - JUNE 09: Danny Briere #48 of the Philadelphia Flyers celebrates with teammate Lukas Krajicek #2, Kimmo Timonen #44 and Scott Hartnell #19 after scoring a goal in the second period against the Chicago Blackhawks in Game Six of the 2010 NHL

Three of the players (Scott Hartnell, Danny Briere and Kimmo Timonen) in this picture were all acquired during the 2007 season.

Hartnell and Timonen were acquired and then quickly signed after Philly traded away the first-round pick it acquired in the Peter Forsberg trade. Danny Briere was then signed quickly after. Briere was coming off two great seasons in Buffalo, including two great postseason efforts.

 Today, this is still half of the core group of Flyers.

4. 2005 Offseason

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PHILADELPHIA - FEBRUARY 10: Peter Forsberg #21 of the Philadelphia Flyers skates with the puck against the St. Louis Blues on February 10, 2007 at Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Flyers won 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty

It was a rare occurrence when Peter Forsberg was healthy and on the ice for the Flyers, but when he was, he was magical. Forsberg brought a wave of energy and emotion back to the city of Brotherly Love.

Not only did the Flyers sign Forsberg, they also signed Derian Hatcher, Mike Rathje, Chris Therien and Riley Cote. Not to mention the Flyers also gave out big three-year deals to their eventual superstars, Jeff Carter and Mike Richards.

3. 2009 Offseason

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 30: Chris Pronger #20 of the Philadelphia Flyers skates against the Boston Bruins in Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Wells Fargo Center on April 30, 2011 in Philadelphi

No one player can change a team more than Chris Pronger. The Flyers were improving, but they were still not good enough to contend for a Stanley Cup. In 2009, they traded for Pronger, and the rest is history. Philly made their incredible run to the Stanley Cup Finals in Pronger's first year with the club.

Ray Emery was signed but never panned out, and Brian Boucher was also brought back that summer.

2. 1967 Offseason

The Philadelphia Flyers' first season was in 1967, and man, did they ever start with a splash. Philly had only older veterans and minor leaguers to pick from in the NHL Expansion Draft.

Turns out they were pretty good veterans and minor leaguers. The Flyers picked up Bernie Parent, Bill Sutherland, Gary Dornhoefer and Ed Van Impe, among others in the draft.

Parent only went on to be the franchise's best goalie, and Dornhoefer finished his career with 518 points for the club.

1. 1969 Offseason

No offseason was arguably bigger than the Flyers' 1969 summer.

In the NHL Draft, Philadelphia selected two of the greatest Flyers in franchise history—Bobby Clarke and Dave Schultz. Clarke went on to lead the team to two Stanley Cups and has been part of the organization ever since. Schultz was the head honcho of the Broad Street Bullies.