Philadelphia Flyers 20 Greatest Goal Scores in History

The Philadelphia Flyers have a colorful history as a franchise in the National Hockey League.

There is no doubt that the Philadelphia Flyers have had an interesting history. Throughout the history, there have been players that have left their mark as Flyers. Bernie Parent was a goalie who could stop any puck that came his way. There wasn’t a defensemen more dangerous than Eric Desjardins. There wasn’t anyone who would be ready to fight more than Dave Schultz but there is one group of players that is held higher in esteem.

They are the Philadelphia Flyers goal scoring players.

During its 48 seasons in the City of Brotherly Love, the Flyers have seen the powerhouses that are their all-time scorers. These men not only brought their teams glory and victories but a certain level of play that makes them standout from the rest of their teammates. The current Philadelphia Flyers wouldn’t be the organization they are without these men. The top 20 goal scorers in Flyers franchise history are not only great men, but they are men that changed how the game of hockey is played. The writing staff here at Broad Street Buzz have complied a list of names that should never been forgotten in Flyers history.

Next: Paul Holmgren

20. Paul Holmgren

The name of the 20th all-time goal scorer might sound familiar for his current job. Paul Holmgren was formally the  general manager and now current president of the Philadelphia Flyers organization. However, before he took on this role, he was a physically aggressive right winger. Holmgren was drafted by the Flyers in the sixth-round of the 1975 NHL Amateur Draft. His first season with the Flyers saw Holmgren only suit up for one game. The 1976-1977 NHL season saw Holmgren play in 59 games. He was with the Philadelphia Flyers for six and a half years and awhile he’s made the Number 20 spot on the list, he has quite the reputation in the NHL.

Holmgren was a tough player and often found himself in trouble with the NHL. He had a six-game suspension once for clubbing New York Rangers player Carol Vadnais. Holmgren wound up being one of the most suspended Flyers players of all time. He was suspended nine times during his career. Yet Holmgren managed to rack up a considerable number of goals and ended his time with the Flyers with 138 goals.

Next: Number 19: Mark Howe

19. Mark Howe

Mark Howe lands our number 19 spot on the greatest goal scorers list. He grew up in the shadow of greatness, his father being the famous hockey player Gordie Howe. According to ESPN, Howe spent his childhood playing hockey in the Olympia Stadium and it wouldn’t be long before he became an influential player in the NHL. He joined the Philadelphia Flyers during the 1982 season and the defensemen had an easy time making a name for himself. He was dangerous with a wrister and during the middle to late 1980s that he became one of the most talented defensemen for the Flyers.

Howe was the biggest focal point for the Flyers defense during his time with the team. He wasn’t a particular big defensemen but he was a powerful skater and could move the puck down the ice. Howe was a finalist for the Norris Trophy three times during his 10 years with the Flyers. He was at his best during the 1985-1986 season, scoring 24 goals and having 58 assists for 82 points on the year. Howe played 594 games as a Flyers defensemen and scored 138 goals. He was also inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2011 and was one of the best two-way defensemen in the game.

Next: Number 18: David Ross Lonsberry

Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; A general view of the NHL shield logo before the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

18. David Ross Lonsberry

David Ross Lonsberry was another one of those rough and tumble players that was part of the Philadelphia Flyers organization. Lonsberry made his way through the cities of Boston, Pittsburgh, and Los Angeles before landing on the Flyers roster. He was an all-around player and was able to make sure that the puck made its way down the ice to the net. The left winger had the responsibility of covering some of the toughest NHL right wings in the 1970s. There was no doubt that Lonsberry could make plays and make sure that any pucks around an enemy’s net found their way in there.

Lonsberry was part of the 1974 and 1975 Stanley Cup winning Flyers team. He made a splash for the team and some of the most important moments involved him. During Game Three, Lonsberry delivered the goal with 14:19 left in the third period that broke the tie with the Bruins. The Flyers ended up winning 4-1 and it wouldn’t have pushed them towards the Cup if Lonsberry didn’t make the goal. In 1974, Lonsberry ended up scoring 32 goals and had three 20-goals seasons during his six years with the team. He makes the number 18 spot on the list with 144 goals.

Sadly, David Ross Lonsberry passed away in May of 2014.

Next: Finding Murray Craven at number 17

17. Murray Craven

Murray Craven began his trek towards joining the Philadelphia Flyers when he was picked 17th overall in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft by the Detroit Red Wings. He grew under the Red Wings and showed signs of being a significant player in the NHL. However, the Red Wings organization thought that needed more time to grow. He was sent down to the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL. Yet he was still not given enough chances and was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in a deal that also involved Daryl Sittler to the Red Wings. It was a good move that saw Murray Craven have a chance to really prove himself and establish his game.

Craven blossomed in Philadelphia, having the opportunity to play in all 80 games of the 1984-1985 NHL season. He has 26 goals and 35 assist for 61 points. He was also part of that season’s push towards the Stanley Cup, where they ended up losing in five games to the Edmonton Oilers. Craven had his best years as a hockey player when he was with the Flyers. He had 30 goals and ended up with 76 points in the 1987-1988 season. The seven seasons with the Flyers were the high point of Craven’s career. He played over 523 games with the Flyers and totaled 152 points, earning him the number 17 spot.

Next: Dave Poulin: The Real Flyer

16. David Poulin

The name strikes a good note with Philadelphia Flyers fans: Dave Poulin. Until him, Bobby Clarke was one of the greatest captains that the Flyers would ever have in their roster. He could do everything: skate, shoot and score. Fans, coaches and fellow players spoke of Poulin with the highest of praise. He was a modern version of Clarke and that would be a huge benefit to the Flyers organization. David Poulin joined the Broad Street Bullies in 1982 and was there to witness the end of Clarke’s time with the team. He became the team’s captain after only his second season with the Flyers and was known for having a strong work ethic and on-ice vision.

Poulin was with the Philadelphia Flyers from 1982 until 1990. During his time with the team he had two 30-goal seasons. Another two seasons saw Poulin hit the 20-goal mark. He took the Flyers to two Stanley Cup Finals in 1985 and 1987 and won the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 1987. During the seven years he work the black and orange, he played in three-consecutive All-Star Games. He also totaled 161 goals, 233 assists and 394 points in his 467 games with the Flyers. Poulin joined the Hall of Fame in 2004 and his goals scored with the Flyers land him on the 16th spot on our list.

Next: Jeff Carter finds fame at number 15

15. Jeff Carter

Jeff Carter is a more recent name on the Philadelphia Flyers greatest scorers list. He was drafted by the Flyers 11th overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. Carter was officially on the Flyers’ roster for the 2005-2006 NHL season. The previous season he helped to lead the Flyers’ AHL team, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, to the Calder Cup victory. He scored his first ever NHL goal in October of 2005 and finished his first season with the team with 23 goals and 42 points.

Carter quickly rose up to being one of the most important players for the Flyers. He had great vision on the ice and knew when to make himself in the right place for an assist or a goal. His sharpest tool was his wrist shot, often referred to as one of the best in the NHL. The team wanted to keep him and signed him to a 3-year, $15 million deal in 2008, days before he was to become a free agent. He lead the league in goals during the 2008-2009 season, having 46 goals and 38 assists. It seemed that he would be with the Flyers long-term when they signed him to a 11-year contract extension during the 2010-2011 season. Yet it wouldn’t be as the team traded their star center to the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2011 for current Flyer Jackub Voracek and a 2011 third round draft pick.

During his time with the Flyers, Carter played in 436 games and scored 171 goals, earning him the number 15 spot on the all-time list.

Next: Ilkka Sinisalo definitely a Scorer

14. Ilkka Sinisalo

When Flyers fans hear the name Ilkka Sinisalo, many can think of the how many goals he scored during his time in Philadelphia. Sinisalo was a Finnish forward who spent the beginning of his career playing for teams in his home country. He didn’t make the move to the NHL until 1981. He signed as a free agent to the Philadelphia Flyers and it would be with them that he has the best years of his NHL career.

Sinisalo played nine season with the Philadelphia Flyers. He was an underrated winger but when he was on fire, it was hard not to notice. He was solid when it came to power plays and while he dealt with injuries during most of his career, he was a force for the Flyers’ second-line. Sinisalo had two seasons where he finished with seventy plus points and was part of the Stanley Cup runs in both 1985 and 1987. He also broke the 30-goal mark twice in his Flyers career. Sinisalo had the best time of his career with the team, scoring 199 goals and landing the 14th spot on greatest goal scoring list.

Next: Rick Tocchet is Lucky Number 13

12. Mark Recchi

Written by Marc Naples

Mark Recchi was not drafted by the Flyers, and he played for several NHL teams, but he feels like one of our own.  In two stints with the club, Recchi put up some very impressive numbers. Coming to Philadelphia as a young forward in the Rick Tocchet trade, Recchi exploded in his first full season as a Flyer.  He scored 53 goals and 123 points (still a team record) in 1992-93 as part of the “Crazy 8s” line with Eric Lindros and Brent Fedyk.

Recchi averaged over a point per game as a Flyer. What was also impressive about Recchi was that during his seven full seasons as a Flyer, he never dipped below the 20-goals a season mark. Recchi remained productive for the Flyers, but was ultimately sent to Montreal in the now infamous trade that brought LeClair and Desjardins to Philadelphia.

Recchi returned to Philadelphia a few seasons later.  Even at the age of 31, Recchi was still good enough to lead the Flyers with 91 points.  Only Jagr and Bure scored more that season. He was good at banging in tight goals and making sure that pucks in front of the net went into it. While he increasingly became more of a setup man as he aged, his 232 goals in 602 games played in a Flyers uniform put him in elite company. Recchi also had 627 total points during his time as a Flyer.

Next: Rod Bring-Amour finds himself at number 11

11. Rod Brind’Amour

Rod Brind’Amour is one of the Philadelphia Flyers players that will always be fondly remembered. He began his NHL career with the Blues before being traded in 1991 to the Flyers. There was no doubt that he would be a fan-favorite in Philadelphia. He had a quick style of play and was one of those powerhouse centers that coaches love to have on their roster. Brind’Amour was quick when it came to the faceoff and had a strong defensive presence. He was more of a jack-of-all trades and that might not have been recognized for everything that he did for the team.

The best part of Brind’Amour being a Flyer was what he did when he was in the zone. He could score on power plays and would beat up other teams on the scoreboard. There was no Flyers offense without him and when Eric Lindros (we’ll get to him later) was out, Brind’Amour stepped up and assumed a leadership role. He could also drop the gloves when necessary. His first three seasons with the Flyers saw him score more than 30 goals and the 1992-92 season saw Brind’Amour have 37 goals. The Flyers’ 1997 postseason was when Brind’Amour got to shine, posting 13 postseason goals. He retired from the NHL in 2010 but his legacy with the Flyers would remain. He played 622 games in the white and orange, totaling 235 goals and landing him the top 10 spot.

Next: Simon Gagne slides into Number 9

10. Simon Gagne

Written by Ryan Walsh

Simon Gagne may not have been one of the league’s elite goal scorers, he may have never come close to winning the Rocket Richard trophy or broken the 50 goal plateau. Yet his goals have certainly come at the heart of some of the most memorable moments in Philadelphia hockey in the last fifteen years.  Gagne spent most of his years in a Flyers uniform. He was drafted by the team in 1998 and was talented enough to score 20 goals without spending any time with a minor team. Gagne’s fifth season with the Flyers saw him total 45 points and cross the 200-point career threshold.

In the 2004 Eastern Conference Finals, Gagne temporarily saved the day and forced a Game 7 for Philadelphia with a huge overtime goal in Game 6. In 2010, his performance against the Bruins in the Eastern Conference Semifinals was the stuff of legends when, with the Flyers trailing 3-0 in the series, he returned from injury in Game 4 and scored the overtime winner to keep them in the series. He then went on to score the game-winning goal in Game 7, after the Flyers had trailed 3-0 in that game.

664 game played, Gagne racked up 259 goals. The number nine post on this list is well deserved. So while Gagne wasn’t necessarily one of the greatest goal scorers, he was definitely the scorer of some of the greatest goals. In his 664 game played,

Next: Claude Giroux surprises at number nine

9.  Claude Giroux

There might be a bit of surprise to see a current Flyer on list yet there is a reason for Claude Giroux to be here. Giroux was the 22nd overall pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. He spent some time with the Flyers AHL team and made his debut with the Flyers in 2008-2009 season. He only played 42 games but manged to put up 9 goals and 18 assists for 27  points. Now some may think that those numbers are too small to warrant a notice on a list like this. Yet there is a general notion among Flyers fans that Giroux is well on his way to becoming a top goal scorer and his current numbers are worth putting him on the list. He thrives on making plays that are under intense pressure. He can assert himself in leadership roles as well as helping rookies to find their way around the Flyers organization. True, Giroux has only scored 155 goals in 526 games played. yet he is a rising start and continues to be one for the Philadelphia Flyers. Expect to see his number of goals climb and find himself more solidified on this list later in his career.

Next: Eric Lindros is Great for Number Eight

8. Eric Lindros

Written by Marc Naples

A larger than life player, with plenty of accompanying off-ice drama, Eric Lindros was a force in the nineties.  Acquired in a spectacular and disputed trade for 6 players, 2 first round picks and $15 million, Flyers fans could never forget Lindros. He immediately proved to be as good as advertised, scoring 41 goals in only 61 games as a rookie.  A few years later, he was the centerpiece of one of the great lines in NHL history, the “Legion of Doom,” as Lindros won league MVP in 1995. He wasn’t just the kind of player who could score a goal when needed or just was lucky. Lindros was Flyers captain material and was a strong skater and scorer. He was a big physical force and anyone who had to face-off against him was in for a fight.

Lindros 6’4″ frame and ultra-aggressive style on the ice ultimately betrayed him, however.  Lindros sustained a series of concussions at a time when they weren’t taken nearly as serious as now, and got into a prolonged feud with team GM Bobby Clarke.  By the time Lindros was 26, the one-time Flyers captain was gone from the team.  Lindros left behind a legacy of the most dominant all-around offensive player the Flyers have ever seen. He played 486 games with the Flyers and racked up 290 goals for 659 total points. If he hadn’t suffered constantly from concussions or injury, he might have been a top five great. Yet the number eight spot is where he belongs.

Next: Reggie Leach fits well in number seven

7. Reggie Leach

Written By Ryan Walsh

Known as “The Rifle”, it clearly implies that Reggie Leach was fast with the puck and could easily score. After coming to Philadelphia from the California Golden Seals in 1974, Reggie Leach helped the Flyers to their second consecutive Stanley Cup by putting up 45 goals in his first season with the team.  The following season, Leach led the NHL with 61 goals (he is still the only Flyer to ever score 60+ goals in a single season), and as if that weren’t enough, he added 19 more goals during the playoffs, which remains an NHL record.

In those same playoffs, along with his record 19 goals, Leach set another NHL record with his five-goal performance against the Boston Bruins, as well as earning the bittersweet title of becoming the only non-goaltender to win the Conn Smythe trophy as a member of the finals-losing team. Leach had one more 50 goal season during his time in the NHL and never went a season where he scored less than 20 goals. During his seasons with the Flyers, he played in 606 games and totaled 306 goals. He was a fan favorite and will never be forgotten by most Flyers followers.

Next: Rick MacLeish deserves spot number six

6. Rick MacLeish

Written by Marc Naples

Rick MacLeish has the odd distinction of being acquired by the Flyers when the they traded away Bernie Parent.  MacLeish’s accomplishments in uniform, however, ensured that he would be remembered for much more. He joined the team in 1971 after being traded from the Oklahoma City Blazers. He only started in 26 games but it was clear that the time that this kid had a future. His 1973 season saw MacLeish with a 50-goal year and he was most effective when used on the power play. During the following seasons with the Flyers, MacLeish was excelling at penalty killing and being defensively strong.  He was a big component of the team’s Stanley Cup victories in 1974 and 1975, in addition to being named to the All-Star Game in 1976, 1977 and 1980.

As smooth a skater as there was in the league, MacLeish slotted in behind Clarke as the number 2 center, but it was MacLeish who was the first Flyers ever to score 50 goals.  MacLeish was even better in the playoffs, leading the team in playoff points during both of the Flyers successful Cup runs.  It is perhaps no coincidence that the Flyers Cup streak ended when MacLeish missed the 1976 playoffs due to injury. MacLeish goes down as #6 in game played, #6 in goals scored, and #4 in points in Flyers history. He totaled up 328 goals in 741 games played, earning him just one spot shy of the top five at number six.

Next: LeClair Breaking Into Top Five

5. John LeClair

As we break into the Top Five goal scorers in Flyers franchise history, there is no better player to start with than John LeClair. There was no one who was more suited for the game or who garnered more praise for their position. LeClair joined the NHL in regularly in 1993 and his time was spent with the Montreal Canadiens saw him compared to another young player: Eric Lindros.  It was tough for LeClair to get his scoring career off the ground. The 1993 Stanley Cup finals saw him finally starting to pick up in the scoring category. It didn’t go unnoticed in Philadelphia and the Flyers decided they needed s man like him on their roster.

LeClaire was acquired by the Flyers a few games into 1995. He was brought to the city along with Gilbert Dionne and Eric Desjardins from the Canadiens. There was no time wasted in producing numbers for the team. On a line with Eric Lindros and  Mikael Renberg,  LeClair had 12 goals and 11 assists in the first 13 games that he started after the trade. He possessed the strength and brute force that the Flyers needed. He never failed to deliver, having three 50-goal seasons in a row with the team. LeClair only failed twice in 10 seasons with the Flyers to reach 20 goals in a season. He was also part of the ‘Legion of Doom’. In 649 games he suited up for during his tenure, LeClair scored 330 goals. He is deserving of the number five position.

Video above:

0:02 – Selivanov hits the post
0:23 – John LeClair Goal #1 (1-0 Phi)
0:46 – Hextall save on Bellows
0:57 – Joel Otto Goal (2-0 Phi)
1:17 – Petit hit on Lindros
2:00 – Petr Klima Goal (2-1 Phi)
2:51 – Dale Hawerchuk Goal (3-1 Phi)
3:35 – John LeClair Goal #2 (4-1 Phi)

Next: Bobby Clarke Is Memorable at Number Four

4. Bobby Clarke

Many might ask why Bobby Clarke is the number one scorer? HE is one of the ultimate Flyers players and is usually the first people fans and non-follower think of when talking about the old Philadelphia Flyers. His 15 season NHL career extended from 1969 to 1984. His entrance into the NHL was mired in rumors that his diabetes would limit his playing abilities. Clarke set out to prove them all wrong. He was the 17th player selected in the 1969 draft and the Philadelphia Flyers made it clear that he would do well within their organization.

It was rough starting out for the Flyer, his diabetes acting up during training camp but these issues were kept in check by his coaches. His numbers during his first season, 15 goals and 31 assists, weren’t exactly what the Flyers wanted. Yet the following season saw an improvement and proved that his diabetes wasn’t going to hold him back. During his third season with the Flyers, Clarke put up an unheard of 35 goals and 46 assists for a whopping 81 points. He became the Flyers’ leader and received the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, a first for a player on the Philadelphia squad. Clarke because the Flyers’ captain and steered the team to two Stanley Cup Championships in 1974 and 1975. The Flyers played aggressive style of hockey and Clarke was part of the group known as the ‘Broad Street Bullies”. In the 1,144 games played by Clarke in a Flyers uniform, he scored 358 goals. He is truly deserving of the number four spot.

Next: Tim Keer Proving He Deserves Number Three

3. Tim Kerr

Written by Ryan Walsh

Topping the Philadelphia Flyers’ all-time lists for both career shooting percentage as well as goals per game, Tim Kerr stands out as one of the greatest pure goal scorers that the team has ever seen.He joined the team as an undrafted free agent and it was one of the best decisions made by the Flyers front office.   Despite never playing a full season in his 13-year NHL career, Kerr was a force during the mid-1980s for the Flyers, with four straight 50-plus goal seasons during which the Flyers were Patrick Division champions three years in a row and made two Stanley Cup Finals appearances.He was the kind of player that the Flyers needed during the post-Broad Street Bullies era.

Kerr’s greatness was best exemplified by his performance in the final game of the Flyers’ 1985 first round playoff match-up against the New York Rangers, in which he scored four goals in just over eight minutes to give Philadelphia the win in both the game and the series. Unfortunately, he is often overlooked for having played during an era when scoring was at an all-time high, and players like Gretzky and Lemieux were dominating the league. To go along with the fact that he was overshadowed by his peers, Kerr was also relatively injury prone, which led to his missing the 1987 Stanley Cup Finals, and eventually to his retirement in 1993. There were 601 games played by Kerr in a Flyers uniform and had 363 goals scored for a total of 650 total points.

Next: Brian Propp one spot shy of number one

2. Brian Propp

Written by Marc Walsh

Brian Propp might be the most under-appreciated player in Flyers history.  He joined the Flyers as they were transitioning away from legends like Bobby Clarke and Bill Barber, but was overshadowed in the 80s by names like Pelle Lindbergh, Mark Howe, and Tim Kerr. He was picked up in the 1979 NHL Amateur Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers and joined the team’s roster the following season. There was no doubt that Propp would have success as he was placed on a line with Bobby Clarke and Reggie Leach, both who are also on this list. Propp was a total player and was fortunate enough to grow his talent. He was could work the corners of the rink and find creative ways to get the puck out of a jam and into the net.

What people lose sight is Propp’s clockwork-like production.  He scored 75 points as a rookie, playing alongside Bobby Clarke and Reggie Leach.  As a new generation of Flyers broke in and formed a great team in the mid-80s, Propp made it to the All-Star game five times. He was also part of the team that went to the Stanley Cup and scored the game winning goal in his first NHL career game. However he never had the chance to touch Lord Stanley’s Cup as a Flyer or part of any other team. Propp’s offensive prowess made him a standout player and was one of the team’s most consistent scorers. Propp spent 11 seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers and was traded in the middle of the 1989-1990 season to the Boston Bruins. He played 790 games and scored 369 goals.  Additionally, his 148 playoff points still stands as the NHL record for a left win.

Next: Reaching the Philadelphia Flyers number one scorer

1. Bill Barber

It’s no surprise that the number one goal scorer of all time goes to the Flyers’ Bill Barber. He was drafted seventh overall by the team in 1972. He was among the top rookies in the country and had more of an impact on the Flyers roster than any other player. While he was a natural center, Barber was switched to left winger on the first line alongside another great: Bobby Clarke. Barber was a phenomenal player and he was a big, physical power on the ice. He had two 34-goal season before having one of his best year during the 1975-1976 season. Barber racked up 50 goals and 112 total points, not to mention that he was part of the Stanley Cup winning Flyers team.

Barber was a standout player in that he never went a season without scoring at least 20 points. During his career, the stellar Flyer had four more seasons where he scored 40-goals. Being part of a Flyers offense that was seemingly unstoppable set Barber’s career apart from the rest of his colleagues. He is the only Flyer to score 420 goals while wearing the white and orange. He played 903 career games in the City of Brotherly Love. There might be a lot of promising talent in the Flyers organization but there will never be a player who achieved more than Bill Barber.

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