Flyers Top 5 Lists: Current Player Nicknames
By Collin Coyne
The Philadelphia Flyers have had over 650 different players suit up in orange and black throughout the history of the franchise. While some of them are remembered for their play on the ice, others found more creative ways to stand out, by calling themselves some truly outlandish things.
From the Game of Thrones style nicknames like Bob “The Hound” Kelly and Dave “The Hammer” Schultz, to the truly ridiculous names like Mark “Trees” LaForest and Ilya “Mr. Universe” Bryzgalov, the Flyers have had their fair share of catchy ones.
With well-known nickname enthusiasts Kevin Hayes and Keith Yandle on the team, the 2021-22 team is sure to bring some more good ones. Digging through the dark recesses of the internet, and watching a lot of Kevin Hayes mic’d ups, I decided on the five best for current players.
5. James “Green Goblin” van Riemsdyk
James van Riemsdyk has picked up quite a few nicknames during his 12-year NHL career. The nickname “Pigeon” was bestowed upon him by Claude Giroux during JVR’s time with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
However in recent years, van Riemsdyk’s equipment has earned him the name “Green Goblin” because of his neon green stick tape and mouth guard making him easily recognizable on the ice.
The name seems to have been formally given to him by Hayes. During one mic’d up interview, JVR became particularly cagey when referred to as “Goblin” adding just the right amount of intrigue to favor the “Green Goblin” nickname over the more recognizable “Pigeon.”
4. Oskar “Pianoman” Lindblom
While this might admittedly be my personal favorite on the list, it’s relative obscurity keeps it out of the top three. It isn’t clear who bestowed the nickname upon Lindblom. It first hit the limelight during the 2019 Stadium Series game in Philadelphia, when former Flyers center Nolan Patrick was caught on a mic referring to him as the “Pianoman.”
Traditionally, the nickname is used for players that skate like they have a piano on their back leaning forward noticeably and laboring in their skating. It isn’t clear if it’s why Oskar earned it.
The nickname itself is truly incredible. If the Flyers ever adopt personalized goal songs, some Billy Joel better fill the arena every time Lindblom puts one in the net.