1985–86 Philadelphia Flyers season


The 1985–86 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Philadelphia Flyers' 19th season in the National Hockey League. The Flyers lost in the first round of the playoffs in five game to the New York Rangers.

Regular season

The club began the year 12–2–0, which included 10 consecutive wins until goaltender Pelle Lindbergh was fatally injured in a car accident in the early hours of November 10.
Due to the tragedy, back-up Bob Froese became the de-facto starter, and the club called up Darren Jensen for relief work. Froese suffered a groin injury in practice prior to the team's next game against the Edmonton Oilers, so Jensen got the start against the defending Stanley Cup champions at the Spectrum on November 14.
Following an emotional memorial service, the Flyers posted a spirited 5–3 win, featuring four goals in the third period to earn their 11th victory in a row. They went on to beat Hartford two days later to set a new franchise record for consecutive wins, then rallied from three-goals down to top the New York Islanders 5–4 in overtime the next day. The Islanders ended the streak two nights later in Uniondale, almost wasting a four-goal lead in an 8–6 decision.
Philly became the first club in the NHL to reach 30 wins, after a 4–0 shutout of the Washington Capitals on January 9, but began to falter in February and early March, losing four straight games and seeing the Capitals climb within striking distance. The Caps and Flyers each spent time in first place for the remainder of the schedule, but the orange and black took the division crown on the last day of the season with a come-from-behind 5–3 home win.
In a 7–3 loss to the Devils on March 8, Tim Kerr set an NHL record with his 29th power-play goal of the season, passing Hall-of-Famer Phil Esposito's mark. He finished the year with 34, the league record to this day.
Propp had the best chance of his career to crack the 100-point mark, but that was derailed on March 6, when Buffalo Sabres forward Lindy Ruff caught him in the eye with a high stick. The incident cost Propp several games, and he finished with a team-high 97 points while also causing him to wear a visor for the remainder of his career.
Bob Clarke made a couple minor deals during the season, trading Ed Hospodar and the enigmatic Todd Bergen to the Minnesota North Stars for Dave Richter and Bo Berglund on November 29. Neither player lasted beyond the season with the Flyers, while Hospodar returned in 1986–87. Also, Joe Paterson and Len Hachborn were sent in separate deals to the Los Angeles Kings, and Chico Resch was acquired from the Devils for a draft pick in early March.
Froese finished second in voting for the Vezina Trophy. Mark Howe finished second in voting for the Norris Trophy and third in voting for the Hart Memorial Trophy as league MVP. Howe was named to the first NHL All-Star Team and took home the NHL Plus-Minus Award — the defense pairing of Howe and Brad McCrimmon finished with a +85 and a +83 respectively — while Froese was named to the second NHL All-Star Team and was the co-winner with Jensen of the William M. Jennings Trophy.

Season standings

Playoffs

Despite their regular season success, an emotionally exhausted Flyers team lost in the first round of the playoffs to the New York Rangers in five games.

Schedule and results

Regular season

Playoffs

Player statistics

Scoring

Awards

Records

Team

Transactions

The Flyers were involved in the following transactions from May 31, 1985, the day after the deciding game of the 1985 Stanley Cup Finals, through May 24, 1986, the day of the deciding game of the 1986 Stanley Cup Finals.

Trades

Signings

Free agency

The following players were signed by the Flyers via free agency.
DatePlayerPrevious team TermRef
July 19, 1985Kevin McCarthyPittsburgh Penguins
July 26, 1985Jim DobsonQuebec Nordiques
July 26, 1985Carl MokosakLos Angeles Kings
July 26, 1985Tim TookeyPittsburgh Penguins
September 30, 1985Steve MartinsonToledo Goaldiggers
October 7, 1985Dave FarrishToronto Maple Leafs
October 8, 1985Florent RobidouxMilwaukee Admirals
January 15, 1986John KempCanadian National Team
March 19, 1986Craig BerubeMedicine Hat Tigers

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.
DatePlayerTermRef
June 18, 1985Pelle Eklund 2-year
August 14, 1985Ray Allison
August 14, 1985Ed Hospodar
August 14, 1985Brad Marsh
August 14, 1985Dave McLay
August 14, 1985John Stevens
August 14, 1985Rich Sutter
August 14, 1985Ron Sutter
October 10, 1985Pelle Lindbergh6-year
November 7, 1985Jeff Chychrun
March 13, 1986Scott Mellanby

Waivers

The Flyers were involved in the following waivers transactions. The 1985 NHL Waiver Draft was held on October 7, 1985. The Flyers protected the following players: goaltenders Bob Froese and Pelle Lindbergh, defensemen Doug Crossman, Thomas Eriksson, Ed Hospodar, Mark Howe, Brad Marsh, Brad McCrimmon, and Daryl Stanley, and forwards Dave Brown, Lindsay Carson, Murray Craven, Len Hachborn, Tim Kerr, Joe Paterson, Dave Poulin, Brian Propp, and Ilkka Sinisalo. The Flyers left the following players unprotected: defensemen Kevin McCarthy and Mike Stothers, and forwards Ray Allison, Bill Barber, Jim Dobson, Ross Fitzpatrick, Al Hill, Steve Martinson, Carl Mokosak, and Don Nachbaur.
DatePlayerTeamRef
November 7, 1985Ron Lowfrom Edmonton Oilers

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.
DatePlayerNew team ViaRef
June 10, 1985Miroslav DvorakESG Kassel Retirement
August 22, 1985Bill Barber—Retirement
September 25, 1985Todd BergenMinnesota North StarsRetirement
N/ATim Young—Retirement
N/AJim DobsonNew York RangersReleased

Draft picks

Philadelphia's picks at the 1985 NHL Entry Draft, which was held at the Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Ontario, on June 15, 1985. The Flyers traded their tenth-round pick, 210th overall, to the Boston Bruins for Ian Armstrong on May 24, 1984.
RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityTeam Notes
121Glen SeabrookeCenterCanadaPeterborough Petes
242Bruce RendallLeft WingCanadaChatham Maroons
348Darryl GilmourGoaltenderCanadaMoose Jaw Warriors
363Shane WhelanCenterCanadaOshawa Generals
484Paul MarshallDefenseUnited StatesNorthwood School
5105Daril HolmesRight WingCanadaKingston Canadians
6126Ken AlexanderDefenseUnited StatesKitchener Rangers
7147Tony HoracekLeft WingCanadaKelowna Wings
8168Mike CusackForwardUnited StatesDubuque Fighting Saints
9189Gord MurphyDefenseCanadaOshawa Generals
11231Rod WilliamsRight WingCanadaKelowna Wings
12252Paul MauriceDefenseCanadaWindsor Compuware Spitfires

Farm teams

The Flyers were affiliated with the Hershey Bears of the AHL and the Kalamazoo Wings of the IHL.