1983–84 Philadelphia Flyers season
The 1983–84 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Flyers' 17th season in the National Hockey League. During the final season of the playing careers of Hockey Hall of Famers Bill Barber and Bobby Clarke, the Flyers lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Washington Capitals in a three-game sweep.
Off-season
replaced Keith Allen as general manager in the off-season, and retained his position as head coach. McCammon had received an offer from the Pittsburgh Penguins to become their general manager.Regular season
The youth of the team began to take over the reins from the old guard as Tim Kerr recorded his first 50-goal season. The team finished in third place.The 1983–84 regular season saw Barber play his final games as he would officially announce his retirement following the next season after being unable to return from reconstructive knee surgery.
Season standings
Playoffs
The Flyers were swept in three games for the second consecutive season, this time by the Washington Capitals.After the loss, Flyers President Jay Snider informed Bob McCammon he could no longer continue as head coach. As GM, McCammon disagreed a change was needed, so he resigned from both positions altogether on April 25. On May 15, Bobby Clarke retired from playing and was named vice president and general manager of the team.
Schedule and results
Regular season
Playoffs
Player statistics
Scoring
- Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left Wing; RW = Right Wing
- = Joined team via a transaction during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.
- = Left team via a transaction during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.
Goaltending
Awards and records
Awards
Records
Team
Milestones
Franchise firsts
Individual
Transactions
The Flyers were involved in the following transactions from May 18, 1983, the day after the deciding game of the 1983 Stanley Cup Finals, through May 19, 1984, the day of the deciding game of the 1984 Stanley Cup Finals.Trades
Signings
Free agency
The following players were signed by the Flyers via free agency.| Date | Player | Previous team | Term | Ref |
| August 30, 1983 | Randy Holt | Washington Capitals | ||
| October 6, 1983 | Rick MacLeish | Pittsburgh Penguins | 1-year | |
| May 1, 1984 | Darren Jensen | Fort Wayne Komets | multi-year |
Internal
The following players were either re-signed by the Flyers or, in the case of the team's selections in the NHL Entry Draft, signed to contracts.| Date | Player | Term | Ref |
| August 15, 1983 | Thomas Eriksson | multi-year | |
| February 23, 1984 | Paul Holmgren | 2-year | |
| May 9, 1984 | Todd Bergen | multi-year | |
| May 9, 1984 | Dave Poulin | multi-year | |
| May 9, 1984 | Rick Tocchet | multi-year | |
| May 9, 1984 | Peter Zezel | multi-year |
Waivers
The Flyers were not involved in any waivers transactions. The 1983 NHL Waiver Draft was held on October 3, 1983. The Flyers protected the following players: goaltenders Michel Larocque and Pelle Lindbergh, and skaters Ray Allison, Bill Barber, Frank Bathe, Lindsay Carson, Bobby Clarke, Glen Cochrane, Doug Crossman, Ron Flockhart, Paul Holmgren, Randy Holt, Mark Howe, Tim Kerr, Brad Marsh, Brad McCrimmon, Brian Propp, Darryl Sittler, and Mark Taylor. The Flyers left the following players unprotected: goaltender Sam St. Laurent and skaters Paul Evans, Tom Gorence, Bob O'Brien, and Gord Williams.Departures
The following players left the team via free agency, release, or retirement. Players who were under contract and left the team during the season are marked with an asterisk.| Date | Player | New team | Via | Ref |
| August 1, 1983 | John Paddock | New Jersey Devils | Free agency | |
| August 15, 1983 | Bob Hoffmeyer | New Jersey Devils | Free agency | |
| October 1983 | Tom Gorence | Edmonton Oilers | Release | |
| N/A | Gord Williams | — | Retirement | |
| May 15, 1984 | Bobby Clarke* | — | Retirement |
Draft picks
Philadelphia's picks at the 1983 NHL Entry Draft, which was held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec, on June 8, 1983.| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | Team | Notes |
| 2 | 41 | Peter Zezel | Center | Canada | Toronto Marlboros | |
| 3 | 44 | Derrick Smith | Left Wing | Canada | Peterborough Petes | |
| 4 | 81 | Allen Bourbeau | Center | United States | Acton-Boxborough Regional High School | |
| 5 | 101 | Jerome Carrier | Defense | Canada | Verdun Juniors | |
| 6 | 121 | Rick Tocchet | Right Wing | Canada | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | |
| 7 | 141 | Bob Mormina | Forward | Canada | Longueuil Chevaliers | |
| 8 | 161 | Pelle Eklund | Center | Sweden | AIK | |
| 9 | 181 | Robbie Nichols | Right Wing | Canada | Kitchener Rangers | |
| 10 | 201 | Bill McCormack | Center | United States | Westminster School | |
| 11 | 221 | Brian Jopling | Goaltender | United States | Williston Northampton School | |
| 12 | 241 | Harold Duvall | Left Wing | United States | Belmont Hill School |