On today's edition of Flyers Daily, host Jason Myrtetus and I discussed (among several topics) this year's
Hockey Hall of Fame induction list. During the latter part of the conversation we discussed which Flyers-affiliated names might be inducted in the future.
The late Allan Stanley, whose Hall of Fame resume was primarily built with the New York Rangers and as half of a legendary Toronto Maple Leafs defense pairing along with the late Tim Horton, finished his career with one season with the Philadelphia Flyers in the second year of franchise history. Stanley, who was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1981, holds the dual distinction of being the first Hall of Famer to play for the Flyers and the first Flyers alum to be inducted into the Hall.
Among players who spent a substantial portion of their career with the Flyers, 1984 inductee Bernie Parent was the first to enter the Hall of Fame. Ed Snider, inducted in 1988, was the first Flyers figure to earn Hall of Fame induction in the Builder category.
Below is a list of Flyers-related people who have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. Several others, including John LeClair, Jeremy Roenick, Derian Hatcher, John Vanbiesbrouck and Gordie Roberts (who briefly passed through Philly in 1987-88) are inductees in the United States Hockey Hall of Fame but not the "big" Hall in Toronto. Howe is a member of both the US and the primary HHOF, as are Snider and broadcaster Emrick.
Additionally, it should be noted that the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Hall of Fame is housed within the "big" Hall in Toronto but is considered a separate honor. This year, there are two Flyers-affiliated inductees as part of the Class of 2020: defensemen Kimmo Timonen (Finland) and Mark Streit (Switzerland). Forsberg (Sweden) was inducted in 2013 and Quinn (Canada) entered the honoree roll in 2016.
Several other Flyers Alumni are inductees in the national hockey halls of fame of their native countries. For example, the late Ilkka Sinisalo (1997), Sami Kapanen (2014), Janne Niinimaa (2014), Antero Niittymäki (2018) and Kimmo Timonen (2018) are inductees in the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum in Tampere. Likewise, assorted Flyers Alumni are represented in the Czech Ice Hockey Hall of Fame in Prague, and the museum notes that the Flyers have had, to date, the most Czech players of any team in the National Hockey League.
Hockey Hall of Fame Players: Lengthy Flyers career
Bill Barber (1972-1984): Inducted 1990
Bobby Clarke (1969-1984): Inducted 1987
Mark Howe (1982-1992): Inducted 2011
Eric Lindros (1992-2000): Inducted 2016
Bernie Parent (1967-1971, 1973-1979): Inducted 1984
Mark Recchi (1992-1995, 1999-2004): Inducted 2017
Players: Brief Flyers career
Paul Coffey (1996-98): Inducted 2004
Peter Forsberg (2005-2007): Inducted 2014
Adam Oates (2002): Inducted 2012
Dale Hawerchuk (1996-1997): Inducted 2001
Chris Pronger (2009-2012): Inducted 2015
Allan Stanley (1968-69) Inducted 1981
Darryl Sittler (1982-1984): Inducted 1989
Builders: Executives
Ed Snider (1967-2016): Inducted 1988
Builders: Coaches and GMs
Keith Allen (1967-2014): Inducted 1992
Bud Poile (1967-1969): Inducted 1990
Pat Quinn (1979-1983): Inducted 2016
Roger Neilson (1998-2000): Inducted 2001
Fred Shero (1971-1978): Inducted 2013
Miscellaneous: Broadcasters, Journalists
Gene Hart: Foster Hewitt Award, 1997
Mike Emrick: Foster Hewitt Award, 2008
Jay Greenberg: Elmer Ferguson Award, 2013
Which Flyers are next for the "big" Hall in Toronto? Whenever he finally retires, the legendary Jaromir Jagr (who is still an active player for the Czech team that he owns) will headline his induction class. Although Jagr only spent one season with the Flyers (2011-12), he has fondly recalled it as one of the most enjoyable years of his career.
Among players who spent more substantial portions of their career with the Flyers, Rod Brind'Amour (who fell short this year), Reggie Leach, Roenick, LeClair, Tim Kerr, Brian Propp and Rick Tocchet have varying degrees of support for Hall of Fame candidacy. Leach, who had a 60-goal season plus a still-standing record 19 playoff goals in 1975-76, may not be in Hockey Hall of Fame but he received the Order of Canada (the nation's second highest honor) a year ago for the outstanding work he does in First Nation communities, especially with at-risk youth.
Among past Flyers coaches, Ken Hitchcock might eventually get into the Hockey Hall of Fame while Peter Laviolette is a near lock to eventually get into the US Hockey Hall of Fame and could get into the big Hall if he were to win a second Stanley Cup championship. It is also conceivable that current Flyers head coach Alain Vigneault, who may become a fifth-time Jack Adams Award finalist (with four different teams) this season, could eventually earn Hockey Hall of Fame selection committee support if he coaches a Stanley Cup champion. Winning the Cup isn't an absolute necessity for a coach to get into the big Hall -- neither Quinn nor Neilson won the Cup -- but it does significantly lessen the chance.
As of now, it seems unlikely that current Flyers captain Claude Giroux will get serious consideration for the big Hall. He'd have to have a couple more big point seasons and at least one more Stanley Cup Final appearance (preferably winning it, of course) to even enter the conversation. However, Giroux is clearly a lock for future Flyers Hall of Fame induction.
Speaking of the Flyers' Hall of Fame, the most clear-cut retired players who are still awaiting induction are Recchi, Tocchet, Simon Gagne and Timonen. Paul Holmgren also deserves induction as the only person who has served the franchise as a player, head coach, general manager and team president. Cases could be made for some other players as well, but these are the top-of-list names.
Below is the list of current Flyers Hall of Fame inductees:
Bobby Clarke 1988 Player (1969-1984), General Manager (1984-1990, 1994-2006), Senior VP (2006-present)
Bernie Parent 1988 Player (1967-1971, 1973-1979)
Keith Allen 1989 Head Coach (1967-1969), General Manager (1969-1983), Executive VP (1983-2014)
Bill Barber 1989 Player (1972-1984), Head Coach (2000-2002)
Ed Snider 1989 Majority Owner (1967-1996), Chairman (1996-2016)
Rick MacLeish 1990 Player (1970-1980, 1983-1984)
Fred Shero 1990 Head Coach (1971-1978)
Barry Ashbee 1991 Player (1970-1974)
Gary Dornhoefer 1991 Player (1967-1978)
Gene Hart 1992 Broadcaster (1967-1995)
Reggie Leach 1992 Player (1974-1982)
Joe Scott 1993 Minority Owner (1967-1984), President (1968-1979), Chairman of the Board, Emeritus (1979-2002)
Ed Van Impe 1993 Player (1967-1976)
Tim Kerr 1994 Player (1980-1991)
Joe Watson 1996 Player (1967-1978)
Brian Propp 1999 Player (1979-1990)
Mark Howe 2001 Player (1982-1992)
Dave Poulin 2004 Player (1983-1990)
Ron Hextall 2008 Player (1986-1992, 1994-1999), GM (2014-2018)
Dave Schultz 2009 Player (1972-1976)
John LeClair 2014 Player (1994-2004)
Eric Lindros 2014 Player (1992-2000)
Eric Desjardins 2015 Player (1994-2006)
Rod Brind'Amour 2015 Player (1992-2000)
Jim Watson 2016 Player (1973-1982)
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
Join the Discussion:
»