1971–72 Philadelphia Flyers season

The 1971–72 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Philadelphia Flyers' fifth season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Flyers missed the playoffs for the second time in three years.

1971–72 Philadelphia Flyers
Division5th West
1971–72 record26–38–14
Home record19–13–7
Road record7–25–7
Goals for200 (14th)
Goals against236 (7th)
Team information
PresidentJoe Scott
General managerKeith Allen
CoachFred Shero
CaptainEd Van Impe
Alternate captainsJean-Guy Gendron
ArenaSpectrum
Average attendance14,379[1]
Minor league affiliate(s)Richmond Robins
San Diego Gulls
Jersey Devils
Salem Rebels
Team leaders
GoalsBobby Clarke (35)
AssistsBobby Clarke (46)
PointsBobby Clarke (81)
Penalty minutesGary Dornhoefer (183)
Plus/minusBobby Clarke (+22)
WinsDoug Favell (18)
Goals against averageDoug Favell (2.81)

Off-season

The Flyers fired head coach Vic Stasiuk on May 27, 1971,[2] after heavy criticism by Flyers players.[3] On June 2, the Flyers hired Fred Shero to replace him.[3] In the previous two seasons Shero had guided two teams to league championships, the Buffalo Bisons of the American Hockey League and the Omaha Knights of the Central Hockey League.[3]

Regular season

Bobby Clarke continued to progress as he led the team in goals (35), assists (46), and points (81) in 1971–72 and he became the first Flyer to win an NHL award, the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. However, in the season's final game, the Flyers needed a win or a tie against the second-year Buffalo Sabres to beat out the Pittsburgh Penguins for the final playoff spot. The score was tied late in the game, but with just four seconds on the clock, former Flyer Gerry Meehan took a shot from just inside the blue line that eluded Flyers goalie Doug Favell.[4] With identical records the playoff berth was determined by 'goals for' and went to the Penguins.

Season standings
West Division[5]
GP W L T GF GA DIFF Pts
1Chicago Black Hawks78461715256166+90107
2Minnesota North Stars78372912212191+2186
3St. Louis Blues78283911208247−3967
4Pittsburgh Penguins78263814220258−3866
5Philadelphia Flyers78263814200236−3666
6California Golden Seals78213918216288−7260
7Los Angeles Kings7820499206305−9949

Schedule and results

Regular season
1971–72 regular season
October: 5–4–1, 11 Points (Home: 3–1–0; Road: 2–3–1)
November: 2–7–3, 7 Points (Home: 2–4–2; Road: 0–3–1)
December: 4–7–1, 9 Points (Home: 4–2–1; Road: 0–5–0)
January: 3–8–3, 9 Points (Home: 3–2–1; Road: 0–6–2)
February: 5–6–3, 13 Points (Home: 2–1–1; Road: 3–5–2)
March: 7–5–2, 16 Points (Home: 5–3–1; Road: 2–2–1)
April: 0–1–1, 1 Points (Home: 0–0–1; Road: 0–1–0)

Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Player statistics

Scoring
  • Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left Wing; RW = Right Wing
  • = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.
  • = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.
Regular season
No. Player Age Pos GP G A Pts +/- PIM
16Bobby Clarke22C783546812287
12Gary Dornhoefer28RW75173249−15183
17Simon Nolet30RW67232043622
22Rick Foley26D58112536−16168
9Bob Kelly21LW7814152916157
20Jim Johnson29C46131528−2112
21Serge Bernier24C44121123−2051
10, 15Bill Clement21C4991423−1439
5Brent Hughes28D6322022635
21Bill Flett28RW31111021526
4Barry Ashbee32D7361420275
11Jean-Guy Gendron37LW5661319−236
25Jean Potvin22D2931215−66
18Ross Lonsberry24LW327714−922
7Michel Parizeau23LW3721214−610
18Bill Lesuk25LW457613−1431
2Ed Van Impe31D734913−878
8Lew Morrison23LW585510−1826
14Joe Watson28D653710−1738
24Dick Sarrazin26RW2834704
20Eddie Joyal31C26347−138
3, 10Willie Brossart22D42044−712
19Rick MacLeish22C17123−99
15Larry Mickey28RW14123−58
6Wayne Hillman33D47033−1621
23Larry Keenan31LW14112−42
25Pierre Plante20RW24101−1115
1Doug Favell26G54011N/A32
10Larry Wright20C27011−62
19, 23Larry Hale30D6011−50
19, 24Ralph MacSweyn29D201100
30Bruce Gamble33G24000N/A2
3Larry Brown24D12000−32
30Bobby Taylor27G6000N/A0
24, 30, 34Don McLeod25G4000N/A0
3Jim Mair25D2000−20
25Dave Schultz22LW100000
23Rene Drolet27RW100000
25Don Saleski22RW1000−10

Goaltending
Regular season
No. Player Age GP GS W L T SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI
1Doug Favell2654521825916551402.81.91552,984:44
30Bruce Gamble332418782659582.94.91221,184:18
30Bobby Taylor2765122193163.00.9170319:45
24, 30, 34Don McLeod2543031109144.65.8720180:45

Awards and records

Awards
Type Award/honor Recipient Ref
League (annual) Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy Bobby Clarke [6]
League (in-season) NHL All-Star Game selection Bobby Clarke [7]
Simon Nolet

Individual
Franchise player records set during the 1971–72 season
Record Type Total Player Date(s) Opponent Ref
Goals scored Period 3[lower-alpha 1] Bill Flett 3/9/1972 Los Angeles Kings [8]

Team
Franchise team records set during the 1971–72 season
Record Type Total Date(s) Opponent Player(s) Refs
Powerplay goals scored Game 6[lower-alpha 2] 1/9/1972 California Golden Seals — [9]
Games winless on road Streak 19[lower-alpha 3] 10/23/1971 – 1/27/1972 — — [10]
Fastest goal from start of period Game 0:08[lower-alpha 2] 3/2/1972 Minnesota North Stars Bob Kelly [11]
Most losses on road Season 25 — — — [12]

Milestones
Franchise firsts[13]
Milestone Player Details Date Ref
30-goal season Bobby Clarke Even-strength goal at 1:37 of the first period against Ken Dryden March 13, 1972 [14]

Transactions

The Flyers were involved in the following transactions from May 19, 1971, the day after the deciding game of the 1971 Stanley Cup Finals, through May 11, 1972, the day of the deciding game of the 1972 Stanley Cup Finals.[15]

Trades
Date Details Ref
June 13, 1971 To Philadelphia Flyers
Larry Mickey		 To Los Angeles Kings
Larry Hillman		 [16]
September 8, 1971 To Philadelphia Flyers
cash		 To Portland Buckaroos (WHL)
Cliff Schmautz		 [17]
October 15, 1971 To Philadelphia Flyers
Rick Foley		 To Chicago Black Hawks
Andre Lacroix		 [18]
November 16, 1971 To Philadelphia Flyers
Larry Keenan		 To Buffalo Sabres
Larry Mickey		 [19]
January 28, 1972 To Philadelphia Flyers
Bill Flett
Eddie Joyal
Ross Lonsberry
Jean Potvin		 To Los Angeles Kings
Serge Bernier
Jim Johnson
Bill Lesuk		 [20]

Free agency

The following players were signed by the Flyers via free agency.

Date Player Previous team (league) Term Ref
July 1971Orest KindrachukSaskatoon Blades (WCHL)[21]
September 11, 1971Bob HurlburtQuebec Aces (AHL)

Internal

The following players were either re-signed by the Flyers or, in the case of the team's selections in the NHL Entry Draft, signed to contracts.

Date Player Term Ref
August 7, 1971Pierre Plante (DP)2-year[22]
August 16, 1971Bruce Gamble[23]
September 2, 1971Larry Brown[24]
September 2, 1971Bob Kelly[24]
September 2, 1971Rick MacLeish[24]
September 5, 1971Jim Johnson[25]
September 5, 1971Lew Morrison[25]
September 5, 1971Joe Watson[25]
September 7, 1971Gary Dornhoefer[26]
September 7, 1971Wayne Hillman[26]
September 7, 1971Danny Schock[26]
September 7, 1971Frank Spring[26]
September 7, 1971Ed Van Impe[26]
September 8, 1971Serge Bernier[17]
September 8, 1971Jean-Guy Gendron[17]
September 8, 1971Bill Lesuk[17]
September 8, 1971Larry Mickey[17]
September 10, 1971Andre Lacroix
October 7, 1971Doug Favell
March 20, 1972Bobby Clarke5-year extension[22]
N/AGlen Irwin (DP)2-year[22]
N/ADon McCulloch (DP)2-year[22]
N/ALarry Wright (DP)2-year[22]

Intra-League

The 1971 NHL Intra-League Draft was held on June 8, 1971.[27][28] Each NHL team placed 18 skaters and 2 goaltenders on a protected list from which the other teams could not select.[27] It cost $40,000 to make a claim.[27]

Date Player Team Ref
June 8, 1971Larry Brown[lower-alpha 4]from New York Rangers[27][29]
June 8, 1971Frank Spring[lower-alpha 5]from Boston Bruins[27][29][30]
June 8, 1971Garry Peters[lower-alpha 6]to Boston Bruins[27][29][31]

Reverse

The 1971 NHL Reverse Draft was held on June 9, 1971.[32] The Reverse Draft featured American Hockey League (AHL) and Western Hockey League (WHL) teams selecting unprotected players from NHL teams.[32] It cost $15,000 to make a claim.[32]

Date Player Team Ref
June 9, 1971Don McLeodfrom Detroit Red Wings[lower-alpha 7][33]

Waivers

The Flyers were involved in the following waivers transactions.

Date Player Team Ref
December 8, 1971Michel Parizeaufrom St. Louis Blues[34]
January 28, 1972Larry Brownto Los Angeles Kings[35]

Departures

The following players left the team via free agency, release, or retirement. Players who were under contract and left the team during the season are marked with an asterisk (*).

Date Player New team (league) Via Ref
September 20, 1971Keith Wright—Release
February 9, 1972Bruce Gamble*—Retirement[lower-alpha 8][36]

Draft picks
See also: List of Philadelphia Flyers draft picks

Philadelphia's picks at the 1971 NHL Amateur Draft, which was held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec, on June 10, 1971.[37]

Round Pick Player Position Nationality Team (league) Notes
1 8 Larry Wright Center  Canada Regina Pats (WCHL)
1 9 Pierre Plante Right Wing  Canada Drummondville Rangers (QMJHL) [lower-alpha 9]
3 36 Glen Irwin Defense  Canada Estevan Bruins (WCHL)
4 50 Ted Scharf Right Wing  Canada Kitchener Rangers (OHA)
5 64 Don McCulloch Defense  Canada Niagara Falls Flyers (OHA)
6 78 Yvon Bilodeau Defense  Canada Estevan Bruins (WCHL)
7 92 Bobby Gerrard Right Wing  Canada Regina Pats (WCHL)
8 106 Jerome Mrazek Goaltender  Canada University of Minnesota Duluth (WCHA)

Farm teams

The Flyers were affiliated with the Richmond Robins of the AHL,[39][40] the San Diego Gulls of the WHL,[41] and the Jersey Devils and Salem Rebels of the EHL.[41]

Notes
  1. Tied nine times by eight different players. See List of Philadelphia Flyers records.
  2. Tied during the 1988–89 season.
  3. 15 losses and 4 ties.
  4. The Flyers removed Larry Hillman from their protected list after selecting Brown.
  5. The Flyers removed Garry Peters from their protected list after selecting Spring.
  6. The Bruins claimed Peters in lieu of cash.
  7. Claimed by the Quebec Aces, the Flyers' AHL affiliate.
  8. Gamble suffered a career-ending heart attack during game played on February 9, 1972.
  9. The Flyers acquired the 9th overall pick from the Toronto Maple Leafs along with Bruce Gamble and Mike Walton for Bernie Parent and the Flyers' second-round pick, 22nd overall, on January 31, 1971.[38]

References
General
Specific
  1. "All Time Team Attendance". P. Anson. Flyers History. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  2. "Flyers Fire Coach Vic Stasiuk". Chicago Tribune. May 28, 1971. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  3. "NHL Flyers Name Shero New Coach". AP. The Schenectady Gazette. June 3, 1971. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  4. "Flyers History – Philadelphia Flyer Game Summary". P. Anson. Flyers History. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
  5. "1971–1972 Division Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". National Hockey League.
  6. "Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy". National Hockey League. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  7. "25th NHL All-Star Game". NHL.com. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  8. 2016–2017 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide, p. 264
  9. 2016–2017 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide, p. 261
  10. 2016–2017 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide, p. 259
  11. 2016–2017 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide, p. 262
  12. 2016–2017 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide, p. 244
  13. "Flyers History – All-Time Firsts". P.Anson. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  14. "Flyers History – Philadelphia Flyer Goal Season List". P.Anson. Retrieved August 12, 2015. Goal List for Bobby Clarke 1971–72 Season
  15. "Hockey Transactions Search Results". Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved April 12, 2014.
  16. "Flyers deal defenseman". UPI. Delaware County Daily Times. June 14, 1971. Retrieved December 18, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. "Flyers Sign Four Skaters". UPI. El Paso Herald-Post. September 9, 1971. Retrieved December 18, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. "no title". Brandon Sun. October 16, 1971. Retrieved December 18, 2014 – via Newspapers.com. Cite uses generic title (help)
  19. "Flyers Get Keenan". UPI. The Logansport Press. November 17, 1971. Retrieved December 18, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. "'We had to do something:' Allen". UPI. Delaware County Daily Times. January 29, 1972. Retrieved December 18, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. "Orest Kindrachuk – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  22. "Flyers sign Clarke to 5-year contract". Delaware County Daily Times. March 21, 1972. Retrieved December 18, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. "Flyers Sign Goalie Bruce Gamble". AP. The Gettysburg Times. August 17, 1971. Retrieved December 18, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. "Philly Flyers Sign 3 More". AP. The Gettysburg Times. September 3, 1971. Retrieved December 18, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. "Flyers Sign 10 Players". AP. The Gettysburg Times. September 6, 1971. Retrieved December 18, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. "Flyers sign 5, to open practice". UPI. Delaware County Daily Times. July 1, 1975. Retrieved December 18, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. Parsons, Mark (August 6, 2012). "1971 NHL Intra-League Draft". Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  28. "no title". Independent. June 9, 1971. Retrieved December 18, 2014 – via Newspapers.com. Cite uses generic title (help)
  29. "1971 NHL Intraleague Draft Picks at hockeydb.com". hockeyDB.com. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
  30. "Frank Spring – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  31. "Garry Peters – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  32. "Canadians Likely To Get A New Coach...In Addition To Players". Kokomo Tribune. June 10, 1971. p. 33. Retrieved July 29, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. "Don McLeod – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  34. "Michel Parizeau – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  35. "Larry Brown – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  36. Bruce Gamble biography at Legends of Hockey, retrieved March 22, 2015
  37. "1971 NHL Amateur Draft Picks at hockeydb.com". hockeyDB.com. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  38. "1971 NHL Amateur Draft Pick Transactions". Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  39. "AHL Franchise Statistics". P. Anson. Flyers History. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  40. "AHL Season Overview: 1971–72". P. Anson. Flyers History. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  41. "Non-AHL Affiliates". P. Anson. Flyers History. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
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