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Around SBN: Terry Collins, David Wright, And The Mets/Brewers Kerfuffle

Best Flyer of the Decade?


Over the last two weeks I've been watching old school Flyers playoff highlights to ease the pain of our current struggles.  As the first decade of the 21st century comes to a close this constant reminiscing leads me to beg the question, who was the best Flyer of this decade?  here are some nominees...

Eric Lindross- In here more as an honorable mention than anything else as he didnt really play for the FLyers in the 2000's.  Theres nothing I can say about him that hasn't already been said.  He really belongs more in the conversation of the decade before this one however he did play a season or two and he simply can't be ignored.  WHo knows what would have happened if he kept his head up and avoided Scott Stevens' vicious assasination in game 7 of the 2000 Eastern conference finals.

John Leclair- again, his best years were in the 90's but he was a model of consistency for the Flyers in his time here.  Hard working, physical, dominant down low.  Its a crying shame that he never got to hoist the cup in philadelphia, nor did he get to finish his career here

Mark Recchi-Many forget that he was arguably our best player for the first half of the decade.  A true professional who came to work everyday.  its really hard to root against him nowadays

Jeremy Roenix- he was a lethal scoring threat, a tremendous competitor, and had a rgeat character that was impossible not to love.  i'll never forget his dance after scoring the winning goal in OT in game 7 against the leafs, with Jim Jackson repeating "he scores!" about 50 times in the background

Simon Gagne-quietly one of the most consistent players in the NHL over the past 10 years, even with all the injuries.  He's been with the Flyers through the good times and the bad and he's never once raised his voice to complain, never once exorted his energy to do anything other than playing tremendous hockey.

Keith Primeau- the epitome of Philadelphia Hockey.  He wasn't the fastest or the most skilled, he was simply a workhorse willing to do whatever it took to make his team better.  He had huge shoes to fill when he was traded for Rod Brind'amour and he didn't let the pressure crush him.  when Hitch asked him to play a more defensive oriented role on the team he didn't bat an eye.  The goal in the 5 epic 5 OT game...  and of course...I don't think any of us will ever forget that 2004 playoffs when he strapped the team to his back, had it not been for Martin bleeping St. Louis and the Lightning's fluke season we would have most certainly hoisted the cup that season.  His speech at the Wachovia center when the flyers honored him was touching.  The guy gave this city everything he had, and you can tell he wouldn't have had it any other way.

 

If you hadn't guessed by my lengthy explanation, My vote goes to Keith Primeau.  what do you guys think?  feel free to add anyone I forgot


This item was written by a member of this community and is not necessarily endorsed by Broad Street Hockey.

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My vote goes to Simon Gagne. I wish I could say Primeau … if the concussions hadn’t caught up with him, I’d absolutely say Primeau … but as it stands Simon Gagne has, in my mind, been the best Flyer of the decade and is one of the best to ever be in the organization.

by Ben Feldman on Dec 21, 2009 4:58 PM EST reply actions  

My vote goes to you figuring out how to properly spell the names of Flyer greats.

by BroadStreetBully on Dec 21, 2009 6:44 PM EST reply actions   1 recs

I have to go with Gagne. People complain about the injuries a lot, but he’s been on the ice for 80% of the Flyers games this decade after you subtract the games missed to injury (yes I added it up, and that includes the games missed this season). And when he is on the ice, he’s always leaving it all out there. He goes out to play every time, even when he’s snakebitten or the bounces are bad. Maybe we don’t always appreciate him as much as we should these days, but he’s been consistent all over the ice at both even strength and special teams. You put a lot of stock in Primeau’s heroic efforts during the 2004 playoffs (and rightfully so); but a little credit should still be given to Gagne for supporting him that year, it was their teamwork in game 6 with 2 goals a piece that allowed us to force that game 7 with Tampa at all. Gags won the team MVP trophy twice, and the Toyota Cup for most points from star of the game selections three times.

That said, I definitely give a strong 2nd place to Primeau in my mind, because what he did while he was here cannot be discounted.

by DragonGirl0583 on Dec 21, 2009 9:07 PM EST reply actions  

He didn’t play 100% of the games this decade while healthy?

Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.

by Geoff Detweiler on Dec 21, 2009 9:40 PM EST up reply actions  

Hahaha I twisted my words I guess. I meant he’s played in 80% of the total number of games the team has played since the start of the 1999-2000 season. I think the team has me so mad right now I can’t think straight.

by DragonGirl0583 on Dec 21, 2009 11:07 PM EST up reply actions  

Jody Hull.

I’d have to go with Simon Gagne. He’s actually been here during the whole decade, and he is one of the truly great players in Flyers history.

Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?

by mikefive on Dec 21, 2009 11:05 PM EST reply actions  

Eric Desjardins

Defensemen are always underappreciated.

"When you make your final stand
I'll be right there
I'll never leave
And all I ask of you is
Believe"

by The Dark on Dec 22, 2009 12:19 PM EST reply actions  

I would have to say Gagne since he has been here the whole decade then primeau for his team first attitude and 2004 playoff run.

by timsaj92 on Dec 22, 2009 1:31 PM EST reply actions  

Sami Kapanen

Boy, we could sure use him right now. He’s one flyer who gave 110% everytime he stepped on the ice.

Joking aside I say Gange. he’s been a constant contributor and plays hard. Although he needs to stay off of the IR

by SkookFlyerfan on Dec 22, 2009 2:33 PM EST reply actions  

Gagne played the most games, but was also invisible for many of them. I would have to go with Primeau. He bled Orange and Black more than any other player on the list. Honorable mention to Desjardins.

Phigment

by Phigment on Dec 24, 2009 11:33 PM EST reply actions  

My list

1. Primeau
2. Desjardins (tie)
2. Gags (tie)
4. Roenick
5. Timonen

by Chocula78 on Dec 25, 2009 9:31 AM EST reply actions  

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