No. 1 — Bernie comes home
In 1973, the Flyers reacquired Bernie Parent two years after trading him away. Wait….what? They traded away their greatest goalie ever?
Yes, but you have to remember he wasn’t there yet and the Flyers weren’t champions yet. Bernie had been traded in 1971 to Toronto for a first round pick and two players. Now this would’ve made my top 10 worst trades ever, except that he Flyers then flipped one of the players to Boston for Rick MacLeish, who would become one of the centerpieces of the Bully Era.
Not only that, the trade to Toronto helped Parent become better. He would be the backup to legendary goalie Jacques Plante, who was Parent’s idol. Plante was having an all-star season with the Leafs and gave Parent tips on how to be a better goalie.
After two seasons, he joined the new World Hockey League, but the plans for that didn’t work out too well for him. His rights reverted back to Toronto, but he didn’t want to go there. He would be traded to the Flyers with a second round pick for a first round pick and backup goalie Doug Favell. Favell would continue to be a decent backup, but not much more than that.
You know how Bernie’s story plays out. He became the most dominant goalie of the 1970s until a puck to the eye ruined his career. He won back to back Vezina and Conn Smythe Trophies, leading coach Fred Shero to say, “Only God saves more than Bernie.”
He is also “Mr. Flyer”. He is probably the most popular Flyer in history and is a wonderful ambassador for the game and the team. But getting him back, for next to nothing, was the best move the Flyers ever made. Without him, the Broad Street Bullies don’t become Stanley Cup champs.