It was not the mugging of Claude Laforge which begat the Broad Street Bullies – as Ed Snider suggested – it was the St. Louis Blues' bouncing of the Philadelphia Flyers in the playoffs of 1968-69. During the season, the Blues – having scored 30 more goals and allowing 68 goals fewer – finished 27 points ahead of the third place Flyers. St. Louis swept the Flyers in a rough series: the Blues scored 17 goals in the four games, the Flyers scored three.
Following that ouster, Philadelphia brought in Larry and Wayne Hillman, and also Reggie Fleming. At the Entry Draft, they selected Dave Schultz in the fifth round, and Don Saleski in the sixth round. Bobby Clarke was chosen in the second round. A year later, Bob Kelly was selected by the Flyers. Although chosen a year later, Kelly became a full time NHLer sooner than Schultz and Saleski: Bob went immediately from junior to the NHL in 1970-71; Dave and Don began playing regularly in the NHL in 1972-73.
If the Flyers had intended to beef up following Noel Picard's assault on Claude Laforge during the 1967-68 playoffs, they would never have traded away their toughest customer – Forbes Kennedy – late in the 1968-69 season. Especially when it was – by then – very likely they would be facing the Blues and # 4 again in the playoffs.
It should also be pointed out that the Flyers – during their first season – were not themselves without physical players. Besides Kennedy, they had like Ed Van Impe, Gary Dornhoefer, Larry Ziedel, John Miszuk, Jean Gauthier and Rosaire Paiement.
Following that ouster, Philadelphia brought in Larry and Wayne Hillman, and also Reggie Fleming. At the Entry Draft, they selected Dave Schultz in the fifth round, and Don Saleski in the sixth round. Bobby Clarke was chosen in the second round. A year later, Bob Kelly was selected by the Flyers. Although chosen a year later, Kelly became a full time NHLer sooner than Schultz and Saleski: Bob went immediately from junior to the NHL in 1970-71; Dave and Don began playing regularly in the NHL in 1972-73.
If the Flyers had intended to beef up following Noel Picard's assault on Claude Laforge during the 1967-68 playoffs, they would never have traded away their toughest customer – Forbes Kennedy – late in the 1968-69 season. Especially when it was – by then – very likely they would be facing the Blues and # 4 again in the playoffs.
It should also be pointed out that the Flyers – during their first season – were not themselves without physical players. Besides Kennedy, they had like Ed Van Impe, Gary Dornhoefer, Larry Ziedel, John Miszuk, Jean Gauthier and Rosaire Paiement.
