Oh well

- BiggE

The 1974 Rangers series was not better than 2010 Boston. youarewrong

I agree with you 100%. Especially when PK is one of our weakest points, I don't agree with the "Throw some bottom-6 guys out there" crowd. I want our best PK players out on the PK.
- jmatchett383

Agreed.
All players with specific strengths should be utilized in the roles they excel in.
I would like to see Couturier get more PP time, despite his defensive strengths the PP may boost his confidence in the offensive zone.
I guess I secretly would like to see more points from him, but I don't consider him a 3rd line guy when he produces 40 points, (or close to that number).
His strong 2 way play is worth another 10-15 points in production at least.

I would add Joel Otto and Michal Handzus to the PKer list somewhere.

I would add Joel Otto and Michal Handzus to the PKer list somewhere.
- bmeltzer

I would add Joel Otto and Michal Handzus to the PKer list somewhere.
- bmeltzer

Otto was one of the best defensive centers ever to play the game. I remember going to a game against Calgary, when Otto was still there. Murray had last change, so when he put Lindros out, Otto jumped out, and Murray would pull Lindros off of the ice, that's how good defensively Otto was.

This is going to be a top 9 list since this has only occurred 9 times.

The top 9 game 7 wins in Flyers history!!

9. vs Buffalo in 2011
While it's always great to win a game 7, it just seemed that they shouldn't have needed 7 games to dispose of the Sabres that year. All in all, 2011 was not one of the teams better playoff runs.

8. vs Toronto in 1976
The Leafs gave the Flyers fits in 76 before Bullies dispatched them in game 7. It was a weird series in which each of the last 3 games ended up as blowouts. The Flyers would go on to smoke Boston in 5 in the semis, before being swept by the powerful Habs in the finals.

7. vs Washington in 2008
Coming off the worst season in franchise history, the Flyers had an incredible bounce back year in 2007-08 and started off their playoff run with an exciting 7 game first round win over the Caps. RJ Umberger and Mike Richards were outstanding in that series. The Flyers would end up reaching the conference finals that season, and if Timonen and Coburn don't get injured, perhaps the finals.

6. vs NY Islanders in 1987
The Flyers faced an Islander team still loaded with hall of fame players and only a few years removed from 4 straight Stanley Cups in the 2nd round of the 87 playoffs. Who can forget Dave Poulin returning from injury and wearing a flak jacket over his broken ribs in game 7? The Flyers would go on to have an amazing run that season, taking an Edmonton team stocked with future hall of famers to 7 in the finals.

5. vs Pittsburgh in 1989
Ken Wregget stepped up huge in game 7 and led the Flyers to a fantastic victory against Mario Lemieux and the Pens in game 7. Mark Howe had a fantastic game with 2 assists and +3 rating. He, along with Kjell Samuelsson, completely shut down Mario in that game.

4. vs Toronto in 2003
This was one of the most viscious series I ever saw. Toronto, led by Darcy "cheap shot" Tucker played as dirty as you can play and the Flyers answered back. While it wasn't the finest played series from a hockey viewpoint, it was just that damned satisfying to beat the Leafs and finally win a series after back to back years of pitiful 1st round exits.

3. vs NY Islanders in 1975
What a series! The Flyers won the 1st 3 and the Isles the next 3. What's even more amazing, is that in the previous round, the Isles had been down 3-0 to Pittsburgh before coming back to win 4 straight for only the 2nd time in NHL history at that point. With Kate Smith kicking things off, the Flyers played a masterful game 7 holding the Islanders to only 15 shots on net. Macleish scored 2 huge goals and Parent was outstanding in the net. The Flyers would of course go on to defeat Buffalo in the finals and bring home their 2nd Cup.

2. vs Boston in 2010
It will be forever known as THE COMEBACK and also Peter Laviolette's finest coaching job in Philly. Down 3-0 in the series and even more incredibly 3-0 in the game, Lavy calls timeout and the rest is history. JVR, Gagne and the boys roared back to simply dominate the Bruins as the game went on. It was one of the greatest comebacks in Philly sports history, and, if they had gone on to win the Cup, it would have finished #1.

1. vs NY Rangers
While the Flyers finished ahead of the Rangers in the standings, most NHL experts had the Rangers winning this series. Home ice advantage proved to be crucial as the home club won every game in the series. A Dale Rolfe slapshot to the eye had ended the career of Barry Ashbee earlier in the series, Dave Schultz would respond by pummeling Rolfe in game 7 while his Ranger teammates simply looked on. This set the tone for one of the most exciting games in franchise history. The Rags opened up the scoring in the 1st, but Rick Macleish would answer just a minute later. Kindrachuk and Dornhoefer would score in the 2nd giving the Flyers a 3-1 lead heading into the final stanza. In the 3rd, Steve Vickers would score to draw the Rags within one, but Gary Dornhoefer went on to score his 2nd goal of the game just 12 seconds later to restore the 2 goal lead. The Rangers would close the gap to one with 6 minutes to go, but Bernie Parent and Bobby Clarke (who seemed to play the entire last 6 minutes of the game) shut the door on the Rags. IMO, this victory helped give the Flyers the confidence to know that they could go on and beat Boston in the finals and that is why it edged out the 2010 comeback for #1 on my list.

This is going to be a top 9 list since this has only occurred 9 times.

The top 9 game 7 wins in Flyers history!!

9. vs Buffalo in 2011
While it's always great to win a game 7, it just seemed that they shouldn't have needed 7 games to dispose of the Sabres that year. All in all, 2011 was not one of the teams better playoff runs.

8. vs Toronto in 1976
The Leafs gave the Flyers fits in 76 before Bullies dispatched them in game 7. It was a weird series in which each of the last 3 games ended up as blowouts. The Flyers would go on to smoke Boston in 5 in the semis, before being swept by the powerful Habs in the finals.

7. vs Washington in 2008
Coming off the worst season in franchise history, the Flyers had an incredible bounce back year in 2007-08 and started off their playoff run with an exciting 7 game first round win over the Caps. RJ Umberger and Mike Richards were outstanding in that series. The Flyers would end up reaching the conference finals that season, and if Timonen and Coburn don't get injured, perhaps the finals.

6. vs NY Islanders in 1987
The Flyers faced an Islander team still loaded with hall of fame players and only a few years removed from 4 straight Stanley Cups in the 2nd round of the 87 playoffs. Who can forget Dave Poulin returning from injury and wearing a flak jacket over his broken ribs in game 7? The Flyers would go on to have an amazing run that season, taking an Edmonton team stocked with future hall of famers to 7 in the finals.

5. vs Pittsburgh in 1989
Ken Wregget stepped up huge in game 7 and led the Flyers to a fantastic victory against Mario Lemieux and the Pens in game 7. Mark Howe had a fantastic game with 2 assists and +3 rating. He, along with Kjell Samuelsson, completely shut down Mario in that game.

4. vs Toronto in 2003
This was one of the most viscious series I ever saw. Toronto, led by Darcy "cheap shot" Tucker played as dirty as you can play and the Flyers answered back. While it wasn't the finest played series from a hockey viewpoint, it was just that damned satisfying to beat the Leafs and finally win a series after back to back years of pitiful 1st round exits.

3. vs NY Islanders in 1975
What a series! The Flyers won the 1st 3 and the Isles the next 3. What's even more amazing, is that in the previous round, the Isles had been down 3-0 to Pittsburgh before coming back to win 4 straight for only the 2nd time in NHL history at that point. With Kate Smith kicking things off, the Flyers played a masterful game 7 holding the Islanders to only 15 shots on net. Macleish scored 2 huge goals and Parent was outstanding in the net. The Flyers would of course go on to defeat Buffalo in the finals and bring home their 2nd Cup.

2. vs Boston in 2010
It will be forever known as THE COMEBACK and also Peter Laviolette's finest coaching job in Philly. Down 3-0 in the series and even more incredibly 3-0 in the game, Lavy calls timeout and the rest is history. JVR, Gagne and the boys roared back to simply dominate the Bruins as the game went on. It was one of the greatest comebacks in Philly sports history, and, if they had gone on to win the Cup, it would have finished #1.

1. vs NY Rangers
While the Flyers finished ahead of the Rangers in the standings, most NHL experts had the Rangers winning this series. Home ice advantage proved to be crucial as the home club won every game in the series. A Dale Rolfe slapshot to the eye had ended the career of Barry Ashbee earlier in the series, Dave Schultz would respond by pummeling Rolfe in game 7 while his Ranger teammates simply looked on. This set the tone for one of the most exciting games in franchise history. The Rags opened up the scoring in the 1st, but Rick Macleish would answer just a minute later. Kindrachuk and Dornhoefer would score in the 2nd giving the Flyers a 3-1 lead heading into the final stanza. In the 3rd, Steve Vickers would score to draw the Rags within one, but Gary Dornhoefer went on to score his 2nd goal of the game just 12 seconds later to restore the 2 goal lead. The Rangers would close the gap to one with 6 minutes to go, but Bernie Parent and Bobby Clarke (who seemed to play the entire last 6 minutes of the game) shut the door on the Rags. IMO, this victory helped give the Flyers the confidence to know that they could go on and beat Boston in the finals and that is why it edged out the 2010 comeback for #1 on my list.
- BiggE

We're through.

I would add Joel Otto and Michal Handzus to the PKer list somewhere.
- bmeltzer

Yup, they were 2 very good ones as well. It was one of the toughest lists to do as the Flyers have been blessed with so many excellent penalty killing forwards in their history. After Clarke and Poulin, there really isn't that much separating the rest.

We're through.
- jmatchett383

The 1974 Rangers series was not better than 2010 Boston. youarewrong
- jmatchett383

Hmmm...that's a tough one, actually. En route to the first Cup versus capping off an 0-3 in games and and an 0-3 game 7 score....tough indeed.

Since you weren't alive for the '74 event I'll let your off hand dismissal of it slide.

- BiggE

See, here's my issue: You say (of the Boston series): "if they had gone on to win the Cup, it would have finished #1." But that's judging what happened after the game 7, after the entire series. I know it's your personal opinion, and that it's the Rangers, but how do future events play into how exciting those Game 7's were?

i agree with MJL with Streit. I'd feel no rush to move him. I just don't see his play dipping or a bad injury happening. He is constantly involved with Jake and G on the ice and top guy on our PP. I also don't see him getting seriously injured (knock on wood) because from what I've seen in Streit's play the past couple seasons is he's very smart with his body use on the ice and does a good job of avoiding injury prone scenarios. May sound silly to say that considering you can't prevent the opposition from crushing you and injuring you, can anyone remember a time Streit took a rough hit while with the Flyers?

I think Streit could get as good a return as Coburn did at the deadline. It's a lot easier for teams to take on a $5.25m cap hit in February/March than in the summer.

Let's put it this way: the Flyers' opening night defense roster in 2016-17 stands a good chance of having a very different composition from the currently projected group of seven or eight.

Very true. I think at least three of the current top 7 will be gone a year from now, and possibly more. From this:

MDZ-Schultz
MacDonald-Streit
Medvedev-Gudas/LSchenn
Manning

To something like this:

MDZ-Schultz
Provorov-MacDonald
Morin-Sanheim/Ghost

Hmmm...that's a tough one, actually. En route to the first Cup versus capping off an 0-3 in games and and an 0-3 game 7 score....tough indeed.

Since you weren't alive for the '74 event I'll let your off hand dismissal of it slide.
- Scoob

It's not dismissal, even though I've never seen it. Beating the Rangers is great and all, don't get me wrong. But the Game 7 against the Rangers did not win the Cup, it only let you advance to the next round. The Boston series, however, and that Game 7, is probably the closest I've ever come to having a heart attack due to a game.

Ok, here goes nothing. The top 10 penalty killing forwards in Flyers history!!

Honorable mentions:
Ron Sutter
Craig MacTavish
Shjon Podein
Simon Gagne
Claude Giroux
Ian Laperierre


10. Terry Crisp
As we all know, the Broad Street Bullies took quite a few penalties. Crisp was one of their top pk guys and saw a lot of time on the kill. He wasn't much of a shorthanded threat, but he did a great job of forcing the puck carrier and getting the puck out of the zone.

9. Sean Couturier
Coots could end up a lot higher on this list by the time his career is over. Although he lacks speed, he has an uncanny ability to be in the right place at the right time and break up plays. He's the first guy on the ice when down 2 men, and has been since he was a teenager. That folks, says a lot.

8. Sami Kapanen
The little Finn used his speed to his advantage and was a tireless worker on the PK. He was great at pressuring the point and picking off passes and seemed to get quite a few shorthanded opportunities.

7. Rick Macleish
Macleish, when motivated, excelled at every facet of the game and PK was no different. He was an extremely dangerous shorthanded threat and was very underrated both as a defensive player and as a penalty killer.

6. Mike Richards
Yeah, he's a mess today, but when he was in Philly he was a beast on the PK and always a threat to score shorthanded. Richards was a demon when it came to puck pursuit on the PK and he always kept his feet moving and played without fear.

5. Brian Propp
The master of the guffaw was also an outstanding penalty killer and routinely teamed with Dave Poulin (more on him later), to form perhaps the leagues best PK duo in the mid 80s. His positional play was excellent and he was always a shorthanded threat.

4. Rod Brind'amour
Brind'amour simply outworked the opposing pp unit. He was an ace on faceoffs and once he got the puck on his stick, he was excelled at taking it to the wall and keeping it away from the opposition.

3. Bill Barber
Barber was simply the best all around LW of his era and a fantastic penalty killer. The guy was never out of position and broke up plays with aplomb. He was also another threat to score shorthanded at any moment.

2. Dave Poulin
Poulin was simply amazing on the PK. His goal in the 85 playoffs against Quebec while 2 men short is one of the greatest in franchise history. He was arguably the best penalty killer in the NHL in the mid 80s and one of the best I ever saw.

1. Bobby Clarke
What else can you say about Clarke? He seemed to never lose a faceoff when the team was short, and he was tireless in his puck pursuit. Clarke was another shorthanded threat and never seemed to be out of position. Not only was he perhaps the finest penalty killer of his era, but he would legitimately have to be considered if they were going to make a list of the top 10 penalty killers in NHL history. Yeah, he was that good.
- BiggE

derrick smith

i agree with MJL with Streit. I'd feel no rush to move him. I just don't see his play dipping or a bad injury happening. He is constantly involved with Jake and G on the ice and top guy on our PP. I also don't see him getting seriously injured (knock on wood) because from what I've seen in Streit's play the past couple seasons is he's very smart with his body use on the ice and does a good job of avoiding injury prone scenarios. May sound silly to say that considering you can't prevent the opposition from crushing you and injuring you, can anyone remember a time Streit took a rough hit while with the Flyers?
- arichardson22

Many fans have the viewpoint that this season really doesn't matter, and they're just going to play it out, so why not make trades for future assets. I don't share that viewpoint on the current season.

Good news, South Jersey fans...

http://flyers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=777540

Many fans have the viewpoint that this season really doesn't matter, and they're just going to play it out, so why not make trades for future assets. I don't share that viewpoint on the current season.
- MJL

Many fans also don't consider Streit being a great mentor for Ghost possibly as well. I think a lot of fans ignore the fact that it's pretty abnormal to have 2 of the best point scorers in the league and a goalie with 3rd best save % and not make the playoffs. Especially with how badly we missed the playoffs. As someone said, we are for sure not a cup contending team, but I wouldn't say we aren't a playoff team. I've eager to see Hakstol's impact on our team and this season

Am I missing anything from Hextall's trade history so far?

Out
Coburn
Grossmann
Hartnell
McGinn
Pronger
Rinaldo
Timonen

In
Gagner
Gudas
Konecny (Tampa's 2015 1st + Chicago's 2015 2nd)
Sandstrom (San Jose's 2015 3rd)
Tomek (Tampa's 2015 3rd)
Umberger
Vorobyov (CBJ's 2015 4th)
2016 2nd (Chicago)
2016 4th/2017 3rd (Arizona)
2016 6th (LA)
2017 3rd (Boston)

It's not dismissal, even though I've never seen it. Beating the Rangers is great and all, don't get me wrong. But the Game 7 against the Rangers did not win the Cup, it only let you advance to the next round. The Boston series, however, and that Game 7, is probably the closest I've ever come to having a heart attack due to a game.
- jmatchett383

The Boston series didn't win the Cup either.

Yes, that Boston series was incredible, no doubt. But so was that Rangers series. Like I said, very tough call.

So, what is your decision? Never trade anyone because they could be better or worse? Or were you simply refuting the point that Streit's value will 100% undoubtedly not change in the next 10 or so months?
- jmatchett383

Im saying its impossible to say either way.

He could go have a norris type season (offensively) and get a better return.

Or the opposite could happen. There really isnt anyway to be sure either way.

Am I missing anything from Hextall's trade history so far?

Out
Coburn
Grossmann
Hartnell
McGinn
Pronger
Rinaldo
Timonen

In
Gagner
Gudas
Konecny (Tampa's 2015 1st + Chicago's 2015 2nd)
Sandstrom (San Jose's 2015 3rd)
Tomek (Tampa's 2015 3rd)
Umberger
Vorobyov (CBJ's 2015 4th)
2016 2nd (Chicago)
2016 4th/2017 3rd (Arizona)
2016 6th (LA)
2017 3rd (Boston)
- Feanor

hopefully Hexy can get another 2016 #1 and #3....then they will 2 picks in the first four rounds

Am I missing anything from Hextall's trade history so far?

Out
Coburn
Grossmann
Hartnell
McGinn
Pronger
Rinaldo
Timonen

In
Gagner
Gudas
Konecny (Tampa's 2015 1st + Chicago's 2015 2nd)
Sandstrom (San Jose's 2015 3rd)
Tomek (Tampa's 2015 3rd)
Umberger
Vorobyov (CBJ's 2015 4th)
2016 2nd (Chicago)
2016 4th/2017 3rd (Arizona)
2016 6th (LA)
2017 3rd (Boston)
- Feanor

No, but Vorobyov was actually taken with LA's 2015 4th (swapped the CBJ pick for LA's 4th and LA's 2016 6th).

The Boston series didn't win the Cup either.

Yes, that Boston series was incredible, no doubt. But so was that Rangers series. Like I said, very tough call.
- Scoob

You're right, neither one did. I'm saying you'd have to base the series/game without the other series as a factor (in my opinion).

You're right, neither one did. I'm saying you'd have to base the series/game without the other series as a factor (in my opinion).
- jmatchett383

Right.