Did the Flyers use intimidation ??? Certainly.
Did the Flyers have a bunch of great fighters ??? Not at all. Schultz was very good fighting someone his size or smalelr, but had major problems fighting bigger guys (Gillies etc.)
What they had was a willingness to to go anytime, any place., and did they often use a pack mentallity ??? Absolutely, if you were going to fight one, be prepared to fight them all.
Ahhhh, so now it's the Flyers fault that the US doesn't like hockey
..... funny that they were he biggest road draw during that time ... and that some of the best hockey ratings in history involved those Flyers .. game 6 vs. Boston in 74 and game 6 vs. Isles in 80.
Ahhh so the Flyers should have kept aging players that they felt weren't too useful anymore ???
You conveniently neglected the fact that:
#1. Dupont was given a fat 3-year contract before he was dealt, and sent home to Quebec, where he wanted to go.
#2. Van Impe lwas 36 years old when they traded him and later worked as a Flyers broadcaster, lives in the Philly area.
#3. Schultz played 238 games of 535 as ex-Flyer. Now lives in the area, and has worked for the Flyers off & on during the last 15 years.
#4. Saleski was traded for a 2nd rounder, which later helped grab the 4th overall pick (Ron Sutter)
#5. Bob Kelly actually had the best season of his career in Washington, scoring 26 goals for the Caps, and still playing his physical brand of hockey. His career abruptly ended the following year ... I believe it was due to a knee injury. he curently works as the Flyers director of community relations.
#6. Bladon and Kindrachuk were traded for a 1st round pick (Behn Wilson). A good deal for players that were well past their prime. On a side note neither Bladon or Kindrachuk were fighters at all. Bladon was an offensive defenseman who never was quite as good as his talent. Kindrachuk was a nice 3rd line center, and was never known for his pugilistic abilities.
Snider has always treated the Flyers like family, almost all of the Cup winning Flyers live in the Philly/South Jersey area ... and a large group either work for the Flyers or did at one point.
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The Flyers epitomized the following three quotes:
Barclay Plager: "It's not who wins the fight that's important, it's being willing to fight. If you get challenged and renege, everyone wants to take a shot at you."
Fred Shero: "Take the shortest route to the puck and arrive in ill humor."
Conn Smythe: "If you can’t lick ‘em in the alley, you can’t beat ‘em on the ice."
Yes they used intimidation as a took to help them win games .... but let's not also forget that they had:
Hall of Fame owner
Hall of Fame GM
One of the best and most innovative coaches at the time: Fred Shero - was in love with he Russian game and Antoli Tarasov. They were also the first team to hire an assistant coach.
The best skater of the mid 70's: Bob Clarke
The best goalie of the mid 70's, with perhaps the highest peak pre-Hasek: Bernie Parent
Three other elite talents; Bill Barber, Rick MacLeish and Reggie Leach