1989–90 Philadelphia Flyers season

The 1989–90 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Philadelphia Flyers 23rd season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Flyers missed the playoffs for the first time since the 1971–72 season and only the third time in franchise history.

1989–90 Philadelphia Flyers
Division6th Patrick
Conference10th Wales
1989–90 record30–39–11
Home record17–19–4
Road record13–20–7
Goals for290 (10th)
Goals against297 (15th)
Team information
PresidentJay Snider
General managerBob Clarke
CoachPaul Holmgren
CaptainDave Poulin (Oct-Dec)[lower-alpha 1]
Ron Sutter (Dec-Apr)[lower-alpha 1]
Alternate captainsMark Howe
Rick Tocchet
ArenaSpectrum
Average attendance17,407[2]
Minor league affiliate(s)Hershey Bears
Team leaders
GoalsRick Tocchet (37)
AssistsRick Tocchet (59)
PointsRick Tocchet (96)
Penalty minutesCraig Berube (291)
Plus/minusMark Howe (+22)
WinsKen Wregget (22)
Goals against averageKen Wregget (3.42)

Regular season

The 1989–90 season was one of the most turbulent in franchise history.

Goaltender Ron Hextall had to sit out the first 12-games of the schedule, sentenced after cementing his folk-hero status in the city by crowning Chris Chelios in the waning minutes of Game 6 of the Wales Conference Finals in May. Unfortunately, the layoff plus contract disputes cost him practice time in training camp, and he was felled by groin injuries three separate times during the season.

An ugly 1–6–1 start was reversed despite injuries to Hextall, Brian Propp, Tim Kerr, Mark Howe and others with the team atop the weakened Patrick Division after a win in Montreal just before Christmas.

Little used Tony Horacek posted a hat trick in a 6–3 win in Los Angeles over the Kings on December 30, but the team suffered through a dismal 10-game winless stretch thereafter (0–7–3) from December 31 through January 23. Previous inconsistent play plus the slide cost Dave Poulin his captaincy on December 15,[1] then forced his trade to Boston for former Flyer Ken Linseman.[3] The move did not work, and despite breaking the skid with an 8–6 win against the Jets, Holmgren accused his club of quitting during a 7–2 loss at Washington on January 28 - a defeat which put them three points behind the Capitals in last place.

Newly acquired back-up Pete Peeters had his only season highlight with a 3–0 shutout over Toronto on February 15, but he finished the season 1–13–5. On February 28 in Vancouver, the team was lucky to pull out a 7–7 tie after blowing a 5–2 first-period lead. In the interim, Wells was dealt to the Sabres for unknown winger and future NHL referee Kevin Maguire.

Following an inspired win in Calgary on March 1, Propp was traded to the Bruins, and a four-goal game by Mark Messier in a 5–3 loss to Edmonton two days later triggered a four-game losing streak. The nadir of the late-season collapse came on March 17 in Quebec, as the Flyers allowed three third-period goals to drop a 6–3 decision to the Nordiques (who went on to win all of 12 games that year). Inexplicably, with the Islanders and Penguins also taking late-season dives, the Flyers were still alive for the final playoff spot in the division.

A 5–3 home win over Pittsburgh on March 22 got the team within one point of fourth, but they limped to the end of the schedule with an 0–3–2 record. A 6–2 road loss to the Islanders on March 31 eliminated them from the postseason.

It marked the first time in franchise history that the team finished in last place in any division since its 1967 inception.

Among the bright spots, Tocchet led the team with 37 goals and 96 points. Seven players scored 20-or-more goals. Kerr was limited to 40 games but managed 24 goals and 48 points.

General manager Bob Clarke, having been with the Flyers organization since he was drafted in 1969, was fired on April 16.[4]

Season standings
Patrick Division
GP W L T GF GA PTS
New York Rangers8036311327926785
New Jersey Devils803734929528883
Washington Capitals803638628427578
New York Islanders8031381128128873
Pittsburgh Penguins803240831835972
Philadelphia Flyers8030391129029771

[5]Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Wales Conference[6]
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1p – Boston BruinsADM8046259289232101
2Buffalo SabresADM804527828624898
3Montreal CanadiensADM8041281128823493
4Hartford WhalersADM803833927526885
5New York RangersPTK8036311327926785
6New Jersey DevilsPTK803734929528883
7Washington CapitalsPTK803638628427578
8New York IslandersPTK8031381128128873
9Pittsburgh PenguinsPTK803240831835972
10Philadelphia FlyersPTK8030391129029771
11Quebec NordiquesADM801261724040731

Divisions: PTK – Patrick, ADM – Adams

bold – Qualified for playoffs; p – Won Presidents' Trophy

Schedule and results

Regular season
1989–90 regular season
October: 3–7–1, 7 Points (Home: 2–3–0; Road: 1–4–1)
November: 9–3–2, 20 Points (Home: 5–2–1; Road: 4–1–1)
December: 6–7–2, 14 Points (Home: 2–5–0; Road: 4–2–2)
January: 2–9–2, 6 Points (Home: 1–3–0; Road: 1–6–2)
February: 5–5–2, 12 Points (Home: 4–2–1; Road: 1–3–1)
March: 5–8–1, 11 Points (Home: 3–4–1; Road: 2–4–0)
April: 0–0–1, 1 Points (Home: 0–0–1; Road: 0–0–0)

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
22Rick Tocchet25RW753759964196
32Murray Craven25LW76255075242
10Mike Bullard28C70273764067
9Pelle Eklund26LW70233962716
12Tim Kerr30RW40242448−334
14Ron Sutter26C752226482104
23Ilkka Sinisalo31RW59232346626
3Gord Murphy22D75142741−795
26Brian Propp30LW40131528331
2Mark Howe34D40721282224
25Keith Acton31C69131427−280
19Scott Mellanby23RW5761723−477
28Kjell Samuelsson31D66517222091
29Terry Carkner23D6341822−8169
11Jiri Latal22D326131946
7Jay Wells30D59316194129
17Craig Berube24LW7441418−7291
20Dave Poulin31C289817512
18Ken Linseman31C295914−730
5Kerry Huffman22D4311213−334
21Tony Horacek22LW4855106117
24Derrick Smith25LW55369−1532
6Jeff Chychrun23D79279−12250
15Doug Sulliman30RW2834740
8Murray Baron22D16224−112
46Don Biggs24C11202−48
18Brian Dobbin23RW9112111
35Ken Wregget25G51022N/A12
36Normand Lacombe25RW1802207
20Kevin Maguire27RW5101−16
33Pete Peeters32G24011N/A2
42Don Nachbaur31C201110
26David Fenyves29D12000−64
34Jeff Harding20RW9000−118
27Ron Hextall25G8000N/A14
30Bruce Hoffort23G7000N/A2
7Craig Fisher19C200000
37Mark Freer21C200000
47Shaun Sabol23D200000
20Len Barrie20C1000−20
45Chris Jensen26RW1000−12

Goaltending
Regular season
No. Player Age GP GS W L T SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI
35Ken Wregget2551502224315571693.42.89102,961:29
33Pete Peeters3224181135601723.79.88011,140:12
27Ron Hextall2588421219294.15.8680418:53
30Bruce Hoffort2374302159193.47.8810328:46

Awards and records

Awards
Type Award/honor Recipient Ref
League (in-season) NHL All-Star Game selection Brian Propp[lower-alpha 2] [7][8]
Rick Tocchet
Team Barry Ashbee Trophy Gord Murphy [9]
Bobby Clarke Trophy Rick Tocchet [9]
Class Guy Award Craig Berube [9]

Individual
Franchise player records set during the 1989–90 season
Record Type Total Player Date(s) Opponent Ref
Goals scored Game 4[lower-alpha 3] Rick Tocchet 1/25/1990 Winnipeg Jets [10]

Transactions

The Flyers were involved in the following transactions from May 26, 1989, the day after the deciding game of the 1989 Stanley Cup Finals, through May 24, 1990, the day of the deciding game of the 1990 Stanley Cup Finals.[11]

Trades
Date Details Ref
July 21, 1989 To Philadelphia Flyers
future considerations		 To Winnipeg Jets
Shawn Cronin		 [12]
August 28, 1989 To Philadelphia Flyers
rights to Jiri Latal		 To Toronto Maple Leafs
7th-round pick in 1991		 [13][14]
September 8, 1989 To Philadelphia Flyers
5th-round pick in 1991
Philadelphia's 7th-round pick in 1991		 To Toronto Maple Leafs
Mark Laforest		 [15]
September 28, 1989 To Philadelphia Flyers
future considerations		 To Winnipeg Jets
Keith Acton
Pete Peeters		 [16]
October 3, 1989 To Philadelphia Flyers
Keith Acton
Pete Peeters		 To Winnipeg Jets
Toronto's 5th-round pick in 1991
future considerations		 [17][18]
January 5, 1990 To Philadelphia Flyers
Normand Lacombe		 To Edmonton Oilers
4th-round pick in 1990 or 1991[lower-alpha 4]		 [19]
January 16, 1990 To Philadelphia Flyers
Ken Linseman		 To Boston Bruins
Dave Poulin		 [20]
March 2, 1990 To Philadelphia Flyers
2nd-round pick in 1990		 To Boston Bruins
Brian Propp		 [21]
March 5, 1990 To Philadelphia Flyers
Kevin Maguire
2nd-round pick in 1990		 To Buffalo Sabres
Jay Wells
4th-round pick in 1991		 [22]

Free agency

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

Date Player Previous team (league) Term Ref
June 12, 1989Shawn CroninWashington Capitals[23]
June 16, 1989Pete PeetersWashington Capitals2-year[lower-alpha 5][24]
June 30, 1989Bruce HoffortLake Superior State University (WCHA)3-year[25]
July 12, 1989Tim TookeyPittsburgh Penguins[26]
February 27, 1990Len BarrieKamloops Blazers (WHL)[27]

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
June 17, 1989 Pelle Eklund 3-year [28]
August 28, 1989Jiri Latal (DP)[14]
September 11, 1989 Ken Wregget 1-year [29][30]
December 1, 1989 Mark Howe 3-year [31]
December 1, 1989 Derrick Smith multi-year [31]
December 27, 1989Steve Scheifele (DP)multi-year[32]
March 5, 1990Craig Fisher (DP)[22]

Waivers

The Flyers were involved in the following waivers transactions. They were involved in two selections during the 1989 NHL Waiver Draft, which was held on October 2, 1989.[33][34] The Flyers left the following players unprotected: goaltender Marc D'Amour, defensemen David Fenyves, Steven Fletcher, Willie Huber, Moe Mantha, Scott Sandelin, John Stevens, and Mike Stothers, and forwards Ray Allison, Don Biggs, Brian Dobbin, Chris Jensen, Nick Kypreos, Don Nachbaur, Gord Paddock, Doug Sulliman, and Tim Tookey.[35]

Date Player Team Ref
October 2, 1989Moe Manthato Winnipeg Jets[lower-alpha 6][33]
October 2, 1989Nick Kypreosto Washington Capitals[lower-alpha 7][33]

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
July 12, 1989Al Hill—Retirement[26]
August 7, 1989Al SecordChicago BlackhawksFree agency[36]
N/AGlen Seabrooke—Retirement[37]

Draft picks
See also: List of Philadelphia Flyers draft picks

NHL Entry Draft

Philadelphia's picks at the 1989 NHL Entry Draft, which was held at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota, on June 17, 1989.[38] The Flyers' first-round pick, 12th overall, was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs along with the Calgary Flames' first-round pick, 21st overall, for Ken Wregget on March 6, 1989.[39] They also traded their third-round pick, 54th overall, and Greg Smyth to the Quebec Nordiques for Terry Carkner on July 25, 1988, their fourth-round pick, 75th overall, to the Minnesota North Stars for Gordie Roberts on February 9, 1988, and their fifth-round pick, 96th overall, to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Al Secord on February 7, 1989.[39]

Round Pick Player Position Nationality Team (league) Notes
2 33 Greg Johnson Center  Canada Thunder Bay Flyers (USHL)
2 34 Patrik Juhlin Left Wing  Sweden Vasteras IK (Elitserien) [lower-alpha 8]
4 72 Reid Simpson Left Wing  Canada Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) [lower-alpha 9]
6 117 Niklas Eriksson Right Wing  Sweden Leksands IF (Elitserien)
7 138 John Callahan Center  United States Belmont Hill School (Mass.)
8 159 Sverre Sears Defense  United States Belmont Hill School (Mass.)
9 180 Glen Wisser Forward  United States Philadelphia Junior Flyers (Jr. B)
10 201 Al Kummu Defense  Canada Humboldt Broncos (SJHL)
11 222 Matt Brait Defense  United States St. Michael's Buzzers (MetJHL)
12 243 James Pollio Left Wing  United States Vermont Academy (Vermont)

NHL Supplemental Draft

Philadelphia's picks at the 1989 NHL Supplemental Draft.[40][41]

Round Pick Player Position Nationality Team (league)
2 17 Jamie Baker Defense  United States University of Windsor (CIAU)

Farm teams

The Flyers were affiliated with the Hershey Bears of the AHL.[42][43]

Notes
  1. Poulin was replaced as captain by Sutter on December 15.[1]
  2. Voted starting Left Wing
  3. Tied fifteen times by eight different players. See List of Philadelphia Flyers records.
  4. The Oilers had the choice of year.[19] The Oilers chose the 1990 draft pick.
  5. Option for third year
  6. The Flyers received $5,000.
  7. The Flyers received $20,000.
  8. The Flyers traded Bob Froese to the New York Rangers for Kjell Samuelsson and Rangers' second-round pick, 34th overall, on December 18, 1986.[39]
  9. The Flyers traded Gordie Roberts to the St. Louis Blues for the Blues' fifth-round pick, later upgraded to the Blues' fourth-round pick, 72nd overall, on March 8, 1988[39]

References
General
Specific
  1. Morganti, Al (December 16, 1989). "Sutter Takes The Ice As Captain Of Flyers". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  2. "All Time Team Attendance". P. Anson. Flyers History. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  3. Meltzer, Bill (November 22, 2006). "Flyers Heroes of the Past: Dave Poulin". Philadelphia Flyers. Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  4. "SPORTS PEOPLE: HOCKEY; Flyers Dismiss Clarke". The New York Times. April 17, 1990. Retrieved May 15, 2011.
  5. Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 153. ISBN 9781894801225.
  6. "1989–1990 Conference Standings". National Hockey League. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  7. "41st NHL All-Star Game". NHL.com. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
  8. "NHL All-Star Game Starting Lineups by Year (since 1986)". NHL.com. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
  9. "Flyers History – Team Awards". P.Anson. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
  10. 2016–2017 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide, p. 263
  11. "Hockey Transactions Search Results". Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved April 10, 2014.
  12. "Shawn Cronin - Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  13. Greenberg, Jay; Bowen, Les (August 28, 1989). "Czech Defenseman Heads For Flyers". Philadelphia Daily News. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  14. "Flyers acquire rights to Czech defenseman". UPI. August 29, 1989. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  15. Bowen, Les (September 9, 1989). "Hextall, Flyers Face Off". Philadelphia Daily News. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  16. Morganti, Al (September 29, 1989). "Flyers Send Peeters And Acton To Jets". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  17. Morganti, Al (October 4, 1989). "Peeters, Acton Rejoin Flyers". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  18. Morganti, Al (December 2, 1989). "Nhl Fines Flyers, Jets $10,000 Each". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  19. Bowen, Les (January 6, 1990). "Rule Loophole Clears Way For Tocchet To Play". Philadelphia Daily News. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  20. Miles, Gary (January 17, 1990). "Flyers Trade Poulin To The Bruins". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  21. Bowen, Les (March 3, 1990). "Flyers Let 1 Get Away, Too: Propp". Philadelphia Daily News. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  22. Miles, Gary (March 6, 1990). "Flyers Trade Jay Wells For Maguire Of Sabres". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  23. "A Phils Farm Team In Del. Discussed". The Philadelphia Inquirer. June 13, 1989. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  24. Greenberg, Jay (June 17, 1989). "Flyers Re-sign Peeters". Philadelphia Daily News. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  25. "Flyers Sign Hoffort, A Top Goalie In College". The Philadelphia Inquirer. July 1, 1989. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  26. "Mccarthy To Coach At Hershey". The Philadelphia Inquirer. July 13, 1989. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  27. Miles, Gary (February 28, 1990). "Opportunity Knocks, But Will Anyone Answer?". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  28. Parrillo, Ray (June 18, 1989). "Speedy Little Center Is Flyers' Top Choice". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  29. Bowen, Les (September 12, 1989). "Wregget A Valid Alternative To Hextall For Now, Backup Off Trading Block". Philadelphia Daily News. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  30. Bowen, Les (November 30, 1990). "Arbitrator Rules Against Wregget". Philadelphia Daily News. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  31. Fleischman, Bill (December 1, 1989). "Howe Likes His New Numbers". Philadelphia Daily News. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  32. Juliano, Joe (December 28, 1989). "Flyers Face First Test On Road Trip". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  33. Parsons, Mark (November 30, 2013). "1989 NHL Waiver Draft". Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  34. Morganti, Al (October 3, 1989). "Flyers Lose Wing And Defenseman In Waiver Draft". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  35. "Madison Wisconsin State Journal, Oct 2, 1989, p.11". October 2, 1989. Retrieved April 4, 2019 – via newspaperarchive.com.
  36. "Big East May Extend Limit On Personal Fouls To Six". The Philadelphia Inquirer. August 8, 1989. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  37. Glen Seabrooke biography at Legends of Hockey, retrieved March 31, 2015
  38. "1989 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com". hockeyDB.com. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  39. "1989 NHL Entry Draft Pick Transactions". Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  40. "1989 NHL Supplemental Draft Picks at hockeydb.com". hockeyDB.com. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  41. "1989 NHL Supplemental Draft -- Round 2 Selections". HockeyDraftCentral.com. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
  42. "AHL Franchise Statistics". P. Anson. Flyers History. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  43. "AHL Season Overview: 1989–90". P. Anson. Flyers History. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.