Since becoming a Franchise in 1967, the Flyers have seen many players pass through the organization. Some were great, some not so great, but, they all wore a number while playing with the club. However, not every number has been worn in the organization, 12 to be exact. Those numbers include 63, 67, 69, 73, 80, 83, 85, 90, 91, 95, 96, and of course 99. Let’s take a dive into Flyers history, and see the best Flyers jersey numbers and who wore them.
Best Flyers Players By Jersey Number: 1-10
1. Bernie Parent
The first Flyers jersey by the numbers is an easy one. Starting off the list with a no-brainer. Parent was key to the back-to-back Stanley Cup victories for Philadelphia in ’74 and ’75. Along with the team honours, Parent has a very decorated career individually speaking. Parent piled up a bunch of individual achievements over his career which included; two conn-smyth trophies, which are awarded to the best player throughout the NHL playoffs. He also captured two Vezina trophies, which were handed to the best goaltender in the NHL that season. Along with this, he is a proud inductee to the Hockey Hall Of Fame, as well as having his number retired by the club.
2. Mark Howe
Although his career will always be outshined by the likes of his father Gordie, Mr. Hockey, Mark had a very solid career himself. Although he never brought home the Norris trophy, the award for the NHL’s top defenceman, he is regarded as Philadelphia’s best defenceman in the team’s history. Along with Parent, his number hangs in the rafters at the Wells Fargo Center and is a member of the Hockey Hall Of Fame.
3. Joe Watson
The next Flyers jersey number is intriguing. Although Watson is most remembered for wearing another number, he wore three for the first two seasons in Philadelphia. Watson spent 11 of his 14-year career with the Flyers. Joe and his brother, Jim, are remembered most for their time as Broad Street Bullies. The two joined Parent on the championship teams in ’74 and ’75, and Joe was inducted into the Flyers Hall-Of-Fame in 1996.
4. Bary Ashbee
Another Flyers great who has his number hanging in the rafters. Ashbee was a Stanley Cup champ with the Flyers in 1974, in his last NHL season. A team award is named after him, and is presented to the best defenceman to play for the club that season.
5. Braydon Coburn
This was a tough choice, not a ton of notable players to wear this number for the Flyers. Although Coburn was a champion with Tampa Bay, his longest tenure with a team was with Philadelphia. He spent nine years in Philly, being a vital piece of a young core that reached the Stanley Cup in 2010. He played in 576 regular season games as a Flyer, tallying 161 points (37g, 124a).
6. Chris Therien
The one nicknamed “Bundy” has some competition for the best player to wear this number. Overall Therien is the most remembered number six in the franchise’s history to this point. Current Flyer, Travis Sanheim will eventually surpass him, but for right now, Therien still holds the title. Therien is fifth in terms of games played as a Flyer and was given his nickname, Bundy, for the simple fact that he used his giant frame to throw opposing players around on the ice.
7. Bill Barber
Where do we even start for this guy? He is the clear and obvious choice for this number, with a ton of accolades to support him. Barber is a Hockey Hall Of Famer, who was once the captain of the team, and is the all-time franchise goal leader. Along with that, he was a vital piece to the Stanley Cup victories, as he played alongside Bobby Clarke. The Flyers waited a bit to retire his number, which they did eventually do. But there were a few others to wear number seven for Philly, but none compare to Barber.
8. Mark Recchi
As tough as it is to pick Recchi over Flyers legends, Dave Shultz, and Brad Marsh, you almost have to with the numbers he put up while in Philly. Recchi won three Stanley Cups in his career, all with different teams, none of them being Philadelphia. However, in his 602 games played with the Flyers, Recchi produced a ton totaling 627 points (232 goals, 395 assists). This over-point-per-game production in that span is tremendous, and a key reason his name is on this list.
9. Pelle Eklund
Eklund played in Philadelphia for nine seasons, alongside Flyers legends like Brian Propp. Eklund never was an all-star, or nominated for any major award. But, Eklund was a great player for the Flyers during his time in Philly. Eklund appeared in 589 games for the club in which he had an impressive 452 points(118 goals, 334 assists). Although Eklund isn’t the most notable name on the list, he certainly did his part while playing in Philly, earning him his spot on the list.
10. John LeClair
Ranking fifth all-time in goals for the club, LeClair is one of the best to ever wear the orange and black. He and his running mate, Eric Lindros, were and still are the first two names when you think about the 90’s Flyers. From ’95 to ’98, LeClair had three straight seasons reaching 50 goals. Along with that, LeClair helped propel the Flyers to the Stanley Cup in ’97, along with the help of Lindros. Leclair appeared in five all-star games as a Flyer and etched his name into Flyers history when he was elected into the team hall-of-fame in 2014.
Main photo: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
