Martin Biron: The Best Flyer To Wear No. 43
By Tom Foti
Martin “Marty” Biron’s time with the Flyers was short lived, but he provided some spectacular moments. Biron’s contribution to the Flyers resurrection is what makes him the best player to wear no. 43 for the orange and black.
Martin Biron had spend his first nine years in the NHL with the Buffalo Sabres. After losing his job to budding star Ryan Miller, Biron requested a trade. It took the Sabres until Feb. 27, 2007 to find a partner. That partner was the Philadelphia Flyers.
Biron was sent to the Flyers in exchange for a second-round pick. The Flyers were in the midst of finishing the lost season of 2006-07, but Biron gave fans a glimmer of hope for the future.
After Biron inked a two-year contract extension, Paul Holmgren went to work on retooling the Flyers.
Scott Hartnell and Kimmo Timonen were acquired via trade from the Nashville Predators. Holmgren then brought in Jason Smith and Joffrey Lupul to sure up the defense and add some additional offense. Prized free agent Daniel Briere signed an eight-year deal on the first day of free agency (All fans owe a debt of gratitude to Martin Biron. He is the man who convinced Briere to come to Philadelphia).
With the in-season additions of Scottie Upshall, Braydon Coburn and Biron, along with a young core ready to breakout, the Flyers came “back with a vengeance” during the 2007-08 season.
The orange and black surged from a last place team in 2006-07 into the second-best team in the Eastern Conference in 2007-08.
Biron had his best season in years, going 30-20-9 with a .918 save percentage and a 2.59 goals against average, but he may have won the fans over when he challenged Sidney Crosby.
Biron posted similar stats in his final season with the Flyers, but Holmgren decided to not re-sign the veteran goaltender.
Biron stayed in the then Atlantic Division for the rest of his career. He spent one year with the New York Islanders and served as Henrik Lundqvist‘s backup for four seasons before retiring from the NHL. Biron is now is now an analyst for TSN.
Honorable mention: Andy Delmore.
Andy Delmore made few headlines during his career, but he holds a permanent spot in the NHL record books. Delmore is the only rookie defenseman to have scored a hat trick in the playoffs.