BiggE
SELL THE DAMN TEAM
Alright kids, because I’m bored waiting for tonight’s game, thought I’d harken back to my days at another site (blame Nutter for reminding me) and do some top 10 lists of best Flyers in various categories.
We’ll kick it off with the top 10 defensemen in Flyers history. Please post yours too, it’s fun to compare!
And away we go!!
1. Mark Howe
It’s not even close and it’s a travesty that he never won a Norris. In the mid to late 80s, Howe was the best all around Dman in the NHL
2. Eric Desjardins
Silky smooth, smart and tougher than many gave him credit for. He wasn’t a franchise D, but he was a legit all situations top pair player
3. Kimmo Timonen
The Finnish warrior was a throwback to the days when NHL players routinely played through hellacious injuries. Smart and skilled, Kimmo was unflappable under pressure and could log big time minutes
4. Chris Pronger
If he had lasted a couple more seasons, he’s likely #2 on the list (sorry Cap). Pronger was as smart as he was nasty, and could completely control a game when he was healthy.
5. Ivan Provorov
His bounce back this season shoots him up to 5th place on the list. It will be tough to crack the top 4, but the Russian machine just might do it. He’s a legit #1 and just might be a true Franchise player.
6. Bob Dailey
The Count was a rare combo of size and skill and played well in all situations.
7. Brad McCrimmon
Trading the Beast was one of Clarke’s biggest mistakes as GM. McCrimmon was a heart and soul guy and he and Howe were the best pair in the NHL in the mid 80s. R.I.P. Beast
8. Jimmy Watson
The best pure Dman during the Bullies era, Watson was silky smooth and always underrated. He didn’t put up big offensive numbers, but he excelled at making smart reads and getting the puck quickly out of the zone and in transition.
9. Ed Van Impe
The 2nd Captain in franchise history, Van Impe was the prototypical defensive Dman in his era and known for his big hits and nasty elbows. It was one of his trademark elbows that caused the famed Soviet walk off in 76.
10. Barry Ashbee
The 10th spot was a tough call, but I had to go with Ashbee. He was the no nonsense heart and soul of the Bullies defense and even though he missed the Bruins series due to a career ending injury in the 74 playoffs, I don’t think the Flyers win the Cup without him. Also, no one, not even Poulin or Timonen, played through more pain than Barry Ashbee. You’ll see him wearing a neck brace in photos taken during the 73-74 season. He played the entire season with a severely pinched nerve in his neck and could not turn his head without excruciating pain. Teammates from that era still marvel about his toughness. R.I.P. Ashcan.
We’ll kick it off with the top 10 defensemen in Flyers history. Please post yours too, it’s fun to compare!
And away we go!!
1. Mark Howe
It’s not even close and it’s a travesty that he never won a Norris. In the mid to late 80s, Howe was the best all around Dman in the NHL
2. Eric Desjardins
Silky smooth, smart and tougher than many gave him credit for. He wasn’t a franchise D, but he was a legit all situations top pair player
3. Kimmo Timonen
The Finnish warrior was a throwback to the days when NHL players routinely played through hellacious injuries. Smart and skilled, Kimmo was unflappable under pressure and could log big time minutes
4. Chris Pronger
If he had lasted a couple more seasons, he’s likely #2 on the list (sorry Cap). Pronger was as smart as he was nasty, and could completely control a game when he was healthy.
5. Ivan Provorov
His bounce back this season shoots him up to 5th place on the list. It will be tough to crack the top 4, but the Russian machine just might do it. He’s a legit #1 and just might be a true Franchise player.
6. Bob Dailey
The Count was a rare combo of size and skill and played well in all situations.
7. Brad McCrimmon
Trading the Beast was one of Clarke’s biggest mistakes as GM. McCrimmon was a heart and soul guy and he and Howe were the best pair in the NHL in the mid 80s. R.I.P. Beast
8. Jimmy Watson
The best pure Dman during the Bullies era, Watson was silky smooth and always underrated. He didn’t put up big offensive numbers, but he excelled at making smart reads and getting the puck quickly out of the zone and in transition.
9. Ed Van Impe
The 2nd Captain in franchise history, Van Impe was the prototypical defensive Dman in his era and known for his big hits and nasty elbows. It was one of his trademark elbows that caused the famed Soviet walk off in 76.
10. Barry Ashbee
The 10th spot was a tough call, but I had to go with Ashbee. He was the no nonsense heart and soul of the Bullies defense and even though he missed the Bruins series due to a career ending injury in the 74 playoffs, I don’t think the Flyers win the Cup without him. Also, no one, not even Poulin or Timonen, played through more pain than Barry Ashbee. You’ll see him wearing a neck brace in photos taken during the 73-74 season. He played the entire season with a severely pinched nerve in his neck and could not turn his head without excruciating pain. Teammates from that era still marvel about his toughness. R.I.P. Ashcan.