Eastern Conference - Atlantic Division
Philadelphia Flyers
| Team's name: Philadelphia Flyers Conference: Eastern Division:  Atlantic Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Nickname: Flyers Mascot: Slapshot (1976), Phlex Team Colors: Black, orange, white Joined the Conference: 1967 General Manager: Paul Holmgren Hockey Head Coach: John Stevens Hockey Stadium: Wachovia Center Current Capacity: 19,862 First Year of Hockey: 1930-31 Team Titles: Stanley Cup: 1973-74, 1974-75 Conference Championships: 1973-74, 1974-75, 1975-76, 1976-77, 1979-80, 1984-85, 1986-87, 1996-97 Division Championships: 1967-68, 1973-74, 1974-75, 1975-76, 1976-77, 1979-80, 1984-85, 1986-87, 1988-89, 1994-95, 1995-96, 1999-00, 2001-02, 2003-04 |
The Philadelphia Flyers are a Pennsylvania-based team that is a member of the Eastern Conference’s Atlantic Division. The Flyers were an expansion franchise that was awarded to the city of Philadelphia in 1966. The team began playing the next season.
Despite playing below .500 in their inaugural years, the Flyers made the postseason in both 1967 and 1968, although they were immediately trounced in both times by the St. Louis Blues. Shortly thereafter the team acquired Bobby Clarke, an astounding player who made a showing at the All-Star Game and took home the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. His performance did not help his team, though; the Flyers still struggled to make the postseason.
Throughout their first years, the Flyers had focused on adding physical players who wouldn’t be intimidated on the ice. The focus paid off; in the 1970s, the team earned the nickname the “Broad Street Bullies” and became notorious for brawling on the ice. In 1973-73, the Flyers finished at the top of the West Division and entered the postseason, where they defeated the Atlanta Flames (now the Calgary Flames), the New York Rangers, and finally, the Boston Bruins for their first Stanley Cup.
The next year, the Flyers again claimed a Stanley Cup, defeating the Buffalo Sabres in the Finals.
The Flyers would enter the playoffs throughout the 1970s and 1980s with varying degrees of success, but would not win another Stanley Cup. Then, in the early 1990s, player injuries and suspensions left a gaping hole in the Flyers’ lineup. As a consequence, the team would miss the playoffs for the first time since 1972.
The team did not see improvement until 1994, when Bob Clarke became general manager, Terry Murray became head coach, and Eric Lindros became the head of what was known as the “Legion of Doom” line. In 1995-96, Lindros led the Flyers to a 100-point season, capturing the Atlantic Division championship and first seed. The Flyers, however, were defeated in the second round.
In 2000, Lindros suffered several concussions and thereafter left the Flyers. His loss might have led to a dramatic downhill slide for the team, but Czech goaltender Roman Cechmanek brought the team to the playoffs. Once there, however, the Flyers lost to the Buffalo Sabre. In the offseason, the team acquired the Stanley Cup-winning former Dallas Stars coach, Ken Hitchcock.
The Flyers were busy during the 2004-05 lockout, turning over almost 2/3 of the team. At first the changes seemed fruitful, but the second half of the 2005-06 saw the Flyers sliding back in the standings. The trend continued for the next years. John Stevens became head coach, and once again the Flyers were rebuilding.
Stevens was able to keep the Flyers in the playoffs. In the 2008 postseason, the Flyers managed to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in four years, facing the Pittsburgh Penguins. They were defeated by the Penguins in five games.
The 2008-09 season saw the Flyers playing an inconsistent game. The team managed 44 wins and 27 losses. Their 99-point season gave them fifth place in the Eastern Conference, but the team lost to Pittsburgh in the first round.
Philadelphia Flyers Current Roster
| Centers | |||||
| No. | Name | Age | HT | WT | Shot |
| 48 | Daniel Briere | 31 | 5-9 | 177 | R |
| 17 | Jeff Carter | 24 | 6-3 | 200 | R |
| 18 | Mike Richards | 24 | 5-11 | 195 | L |
| 42 | Jared Ross | 26 | 5-9 | 165 | L |
| Left Wings | |||||
| No. | Name | Age | HT | WT | Shot |
| 13 | Daniel Carcillo | 24 | 5-11 | 202 | L |
| 32 | Riley Cote | 27 | 6-1 | 210 | L |
| 12 | Simon Gagne | 29 | 6-0 | 195 | L |
| 19 | Scott Hartnell | 26 | 6-2 | 210 | L |
| 36 | Darroll Powe | 23 | 5-11 | 212 | L |
| Right Wings | |||||
| No. | Name | Age | HT | WT | Shot |
| 45 | Arron Asham | 31 | 5-11 | 209 | R |
| 28 | Claude Giroux | 21 | 5-11 | 180 | R |
| 22 | Mike Knuble | 36 | 6-3 | 228 | R |
| 15 | Joffrey Lupul | 25 | 6-1 | 200 | R |
| Defense | |||||
| No. | Name | Age | HT | WT | Shot |
| 41 | Andrew Alberts | 27 | 6-4 | 218 | L |
| 25 | Matt Carle | 24 | 6-0 | 205 | L |
| 5 | Braydon Coburn | 24 | 6-5 | 220 | L |
| 51 | Jamie Fritsch | 24 | 6-2 | 195 | L |
| 2 | Derian Hatcher | 36 | 6-5 | 235 | L |
| 6 | Randy Jones | 27 | 6-2 | 200 | L |
| 77 | Ryan Parent | 22 | 6-2 | 201 | L |
| 47 | Luca Sbisa | 19 | 6-2 | 190 | L |
| 40 | David Sloane | 24 | 6-4 | 220 | R |
| 44 | Kimmo Timonen | 34 | 5-10 | 196 | L |
| Goalies | |||||
| No. | Name | Age | HT | WT | Shot |
| 43 | Martin Biron | 31 | 6-2 | 174 | L |
| 30 | Antero Niittymaki | 28 | 6-1 | 195 | L |