As we know, the Philadelphia Flyers are rocking some nifty new jerseys this season in an attempt to pay homage to the Flyers teams of the mid-90s. Specifically, the 1996-97 Flyers that ushered in an era of dominance lead by Eric Lindros and the Legion of Doom. 25 years later, the jerseys have gotten a slight revamp as part of the “Reverse Retro” line by Adidas — and they look sweet.
If you were a young kid growing up in the ’90s in Philly, the Flyers were probably a staple in your formative years. If you’re anything like me, there’s a good chance that another 90s craze played a pivotal role in your formative years.
Pokémon, everybody’s favorite monster-catching RPG, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this weekend and I thought I’d see just how far my editors here at BSB would let me stretch this union of two of my favorite things.
So in honor of Pokémon Day 2021, I’m bringing you the five Pokémon that remind us of the Philadelphia Flyers franchise.
Criteria
Now, before we begin, we have to set some ground rules.
- We’ll be focusing on the team as a whole, not individual players. While some players will serve as examples of other criteria (play style, reputation, etc.), this is a look at the franchise as a whole.
- Playstyle will be viewed both generally, as well as in specific eras. For example, the Flyers are known as a hardworking franchise that features smart, two-way players that aren’t afraid to mix it up. However, monikers like “The Broad Street Bullies” and “The Legion of Doom” are specific to certain eras in team history. Not every Pokémon has to fit every era of Flyers hockey.
- Pokémon typing will come into play but aren’t necessarily determining factors. There are currently 18 Pokémon “types” ranging from fire, water and ice, to dragon, ghost, and fairy. Not every Pokémon will have to be an ice type. We want a broad range here.
Alright, with all that settled, let’s embark on our own PokéFlyers (Flyersmon?) journey.