Ranking the Top 10 Playmakers in Flyers History

Throughout their 46-year history, the Philadelphia Flyers have boasted some of the best setup men in the game. From early era puck wizard Andre Lacroix to current-day captain Claude Giroux, one thing the Flyers have rarely lacked is top-notch playmakers.

On a cumulative statistical basis, the top 10 assist men in franchise history from first to

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DO GOALTENDERS PERFORM BETTER AGAINST HIGHER SHOT VOLUMES?

Two weeks ago, I spoke at length with Brian Boucher about an array of goaltending-related topics. The former Flyers netminder discussed his views on topics ranging from why today’s NHL goalies are usually bigger than the ones of even 15 to 20 years ago, the effects of the trapezoid and why save percentage standards around hockey have be

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CLARKE TURNS 65

Who was your first sports hero as a child? When I was growing up as a young Flyers fan in the 1970s, the entire Broad Street Bullies team was a collection of superheroes in my mind. There were two players among them who were a step even beyond that: Bobby Clarke and Bernie Parent.

From ages 3 to 14, I deified Clarke. So did all of my friends. Only the Lord saved more than Be

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FLYERS PILGRIMAGES: FLIN FLON, MANITOBA

Tomorrow is Bob Clarke’s 65th birthday. In honor of the single most important on-ice figure in Flyers franchise history, tomorrow’s blog will be focused on Clarke’s legacy and the influence he has had on two-plus generations of hockey in Philadelphia.

For today, I thought it would be fun to revisit and expand upon an offseason topic I have explored

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RAFFL CONFIDENT HEADING INTO SECOND SEASON

Flyers forward Michael Raffl recently did an interview with Austrian-based Web site Hockey-News.Info. The player said that while he was happy with his rookie season in from the standpoint of successfully breaking into the NHL, he felt that there many opportunities he was given that he didn’t seize to their full advantage.

Specifically, Raffl felt th

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On November 16, 1997, I covered an American Hockey League game at the Philadelphia Spectrum. It wasn’t anything that happened in the Philadelphia Phantoms’ 6-3 win over the Kentucky Thoroughblades that made it memorable and special to me.

Rather, it was the first professional hockey game I was ever credentialed to cover in the pressbox. Of all the assorted press passes I have kept since then –

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BRIND’AMOUR WAS ONE OF FLYERS’ BEST ACQUISITIONS

Longtime Flyers center Rod Brind’Amour, who played 633 regular season games for the team, celebrates his 44th birthday today. With the impending inductions of Eric Lindros, John LeClair and Eric Desjardins into the Flyers’ Hall of Fame, Brind’Amour and Mark Recchi become the two most prominent Flyers players of the 1990s who are still awaiting se

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FLYERS SIGN WHITE TO TWO-WAY CONTRACT

The Flyers signed unrestricted free agent center Ryan White to a one-year, two-way contract yesterday. The gritty former Montreal Canadiens forward became a UFA this summer after the Habs declined to tender him a qualifying offer.

White dressed in 52 games for the Canadiens in 2013-14, primarily as the team’s fourth line center. Strictly a checking forwa

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THURSDAY QUICK HITS

* Several people have asked if Michael Del Zotto will be a restricted or unrestricted free agent next summer. The 24-year-old defenseman became a UFA this summer when the Nashville Predators declined to present him a qualifying offer. The same situation would apply with the Flyers next summer. If the team makes a qualifying offer, he will be a restricted free agent. Otherwis

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The Flyers announced horrible news today: veteran defenseman Kimmo Timonen is hospitalized in Finland with blood clots in both of his lungs and his lower right leg. The good news is that the player is in stable condition and should be released from the hospital soon. The bad news is that is unclear if and when the 39-year-old assistant will be able to play hockey again.

Earlier this off-seaso

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