Philadelphia Flyers: All-time 10 Best Flyer Goal Scorers
By Marc Naples
#9 – Mark Recchi
- 10 seasons, 232 goals, .39/game
Unlike many players on this list, Mark Recchi was not drafted by the Flyers, and would spend significant portions of his career away from Philadelphia. He was also more of a playmaker than a pure scorer. None of this, however, stopped Recchi from some top-notch achievements and goal scoring exploits in Philadelphia.
Recchi was selected 67th overall in the 1988 draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins (4 picks after the Flyers selected Dominic Roussel, and one pick before future Flyers teammate Tony Amonte). Recchi became a full-time member of the Penguins in the 1989-90 season. He quickly established himself as an NHL impact player, scoring 40 goals and 113 regular season points in 1990-91 (4th in the league), and adding 34 points in 24 playoff games while winning the Stanley Cup with the Penguins.
Recchi’s career took a dramatic turn in the spring of 1992, as the powerful Penguins traded him to struggling Flyers. It was a significant trade, with Recchi coming to Philadelphia along with Brian Benning and a first round pick. In return, Pittsburgh received Kjell Samuelsson, Rick Tocchet and Ken Wregget. Moving away from the high-powered Pens was no problem for Recchi. In his first full season as a Flyer, 1992-93, Recchi scored 53 goals and 123 points marauding with the “Crazy 8s Line.”
He followed this up with 40 more goals and 107 points the next season. To put this in perspective, 123 points is the all-time single season points record in Flyers history, while 53 goals is the most goals in a single season by a Flyer not named Kerr or Leach. His 230 points in 2 seasons is only just behind Bobby Clarke as the most productive in Flyers history (235 points, 1974-75 and 1975-76).
Ever the travelling man, the Flyers traded Recchi to Montreal in February 1995, bringing a return of Eric Desjardins of John LeClair. By no means was Recchi a poor player in Montreal, but the trade was an unmistakeable turning point for both franchises.
Four years later, the Canadiens traded Recchi back to Philadelphia for Dainius Zubrus and two picks. Recchi clearly looked good in a Flyers uniform, and Recchi had a great season in his first full season back in Philadelphia. At the age of 31, Recchi was sliding back into more of a playmaker role, but he still had enough spring in his legs to score 28 goals and 91 points during the 1999-2000 season. He led the league in assists, and trailed only Jagr and Bure in total points. No Flyer would score as many points or finish as high in league scoring again until Claude Giroux in 2011-12.
Recchi spent 4 more years in Philadelphia and then became a bit or a journeyman the rest of his career. With 1533 career points (12th all time) and 3 Stanley Cup Rings, Recchi is in elite company. It remains bittersweet for Flyers fans, however, to see him win cups with rivals Pittsburgh and Boston while never achieve the prize in Philadelphia, despite playing more games for the Flyers than any other franchise.
Next: “#8”