1986–87 Philadelphia Flyers season

NHL hockey team season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 1986–87 Philadelphia Flyers season was the franchise's 20th season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Flyers reached the Stanley Cup Final but lost to the Edmonton Oilers in seven games.

Division1st Patrick
Conference1st Wales
1986–87 record46–26–8
Home record29–9–2
Quick facts Philadelphia Flyers, Division ...
1986–87 Philadelphia Flyers
Wales Conference champions
Patrick Division champions
Division1st Patrick
Conference1st Wales
1986–87 record46–26–8
Home record29–9–2
Road record17–17–6
Goals for310 (4th)
Goals against245 (2nd)
Team information
General managerBob Clarke
CoachMike Keenan
CaptainDave Poulin
Alternate captainsMark Howe
Brad Marsh
ArenaSpectrum
Average attendance17,212[1]
Minor league affiliatesHershey Bears
Kalamazoo Wings
Team leaders
GoalsTim Kerr (58)
AssistsDave Poulin (45)
PointsTim Kerr (95)
Penalty minutesRick Tocchet (288)
Plus/minusMark Howe (+57)
WinsRon Hextall (37)
Goals against averageBob Froese (2.67)
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Regular season

With the previous Spring's upset loss to the Rangers fresh on their minds, the Flyers got off to a 6–0–0 start to the season, and only lost road games to the Islanders and Penguins in an 8–2–0 October.

Goaltender Ron Hextall made his professional debut on opening night, October 9, and held Edmonton to one goal in a 2–1 victory, and only improved from there, being named NHL Rookie of the Month for October and November.

Things began to click for the club as a whole in November as Brad McCrimmon returned from his suspension over a contract dispute and the emergence of Hextall forced Bob Froese into a back-up role. In the first two months of the season, only the Penguins challenged the Flyers' grip on the top spot in the division, actually starting the year 7–0–0 and topping Philly on October 25 but fading by the end of November.

Brian Propp scored four goals in a 7–1 win over St. Louis on December 2, but three games later he was lost for two months after suffering a serious knee injury against the Oilers. Froese was dealt to the New York Rangers for Kjell Samuelsson on December 18 and later that same night routing the Islanders 9–4 which saw Poulin and Kerr record three-goal games. The record reached 25–7–2 on December 21 after a 7–6 comeback win over the Blues, but during the next game in Buffalo, Ilkka Sinisalo went down with a knee injury and the team lost four in a row on a holiday road trip (Sabres, Canucks, Oilers, Kings).

A seven-game unbeaten streak in January put the Flyers at 31–11–3, three points ahead of the Oilers for best record in the NHL, but injuries began putting a strain on the ranks. With Propp, Sinisalo, Mark Howe, and Ron Sutter all suffering through long-term problems, plus minor injuries cropping up, the team sputtered late, going 15–15–5 over the remainder of the schedule.

February 1 saw the Flyers routed 8–4 in Toronto, part of another four-game losing string before the break for Rendez-vous '87. Home defeats to the Rangers (6–1 on March 12), Kings (5–2 on March 19) and Detroit (5–1 on March 28) followed. A 9–5 home loss on the season's final day to the New York Islanders was no indication of the memorable playoff run to come.

Twice within a span of one week in late January, the Flyers engaged in bench-clearing brawls. The first came in a 3–1 loss to the Islanders at home on January 18 which cost head coach Keenan a one-game suspension. Oddly enough, the second occurred during the game Keenan was suspended for, a 4–3 setback to the Devils at the Meadowlands January 24. That fracas, which came after the final buzzer, saw Hextall pummel Devils goaltender Alain Chevrier among several other battles.

The Flyers captured a third-straight Patrick Division title and Hextall became the third Flyers goaltender to win the Vezina, joining Bernie Parent and Pelle Lindbergh.

Season standings

More information GP, W ...
Patrick Division[2]
GP W L T GF GA Pts
Philadelphia Flyers8046268310245100
Washington Capitals8038321028527886
New York Islanders8035331227928182
New York Rangers803438830732376
Pittsburgh Penguins8030381229729072
New Jersey Devils802945629336864
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Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Record vs. opponents

More information Patrick Division record vs. opponents, NHL records ...
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Playoffs

The Flyers gained revenge on the New York Rangers by beating them in six games, as well as surviving a tough seven-game test from a gritty New York Islanders' club. By the time the Flyers defeated the defending Stanley Cup champion Montreal Canadiens in six to win the Wales Conference and return to the Stanley Cup Final, the Flyers had again been decimated by injuries, including losing Tim Kerr for the remainder of the playoffs. As a result, the Flyers lost in heartbreaking fashion to the Edmonton Oilers in seven tough, hard-fought games. Hextall was voted playoff MVP, the second such time a Flyer won the Conn Smythe Trophy despite being on the losing team, the other being Reggie Leach in 1976.

Schedule and results

Regular season

More information Game, Date ...
1986–87 regular season[4]
October: 8–2–0, 16 points (home: 6–0–0; road: 2–2–0)
GameDateScoreOpponentDecisionRecordPointsRecap
1October 92–1Edmonton OilersHextall1–0–02W
2October 116–1@ Washington CapitalsHextall2–0–04W
3October 166–2Vancouver CanucksFroese3–0–06W
4October 186–3@ Hartford WhalersHextall4–0–08W
5October 193–1Winnipeg JetsHextall5–0–010W
6October 235–3Pittsburgh PenguinsFroese6–0–012W
7October 252–4@ Pittsburgh PenguinsHextall6–1–012L
8October 264–1Minnesota North StarsHextall7–1–014W
9October 281–2@ New York IslandersHextall7–2–014L
10October 306–3Quebec NordiquesHextall8–2–016W
November: 9–2–2, 20 points (home: 7–1–0; road: 2–1–2)
GameDateScoreOpponentDecisionRecordPointsRecap
11November 14–2Boston BruinsHextall9–2–018W
12November 47–1New Jersey DevilsHextall10–2–020W
13November 65–5 OT@ New Jersey DevilsHextall10–2–121T
14November 82–3New York RangersHextall10–3–121L
15November 137–5Detroit Red WingsHextall11–3–123W
16November 141–2@ New York RangersResch11–4–123L
17November 166–2Washington CapitalsHextall12–4–125W
18November 192–2 OT@ Toronto Maple LeafsHextall12–4–226T
19November 205–1Chicago BlackhawksHextall13–4–228W
20November 226–1Toronto Maple LeafsHextall14–4–230W
21November 264–2Montreal CanadiensHextall15–4–232W
22November 284–2@ Washington CapitalsHextall16–4–234W
23November 296–5@ New York IslandersHextall17–4–236W
December: 8–7–0, 16 points (home: 6–1–0; road: 2–6–0)
GameDateScoreOpponentDecisionRecordPointsRecap
24December 27–1St. Louis BluesResch18–4–238W
25December 41–2Hartford WhalersHextall18–5–238L
26December 60–5@ Boston BruinsHextall18–6–238L
27December 75–2Edmonton OilersHextall19–6–240W
28December 96–3Vancouver CanucksFroese20–6–242W
29December 115–3Calgary FlamesHextall21–6–244W
30December 134–5@ Minnesota North StarsHextall21–7–244L
31December 144–1@ Winnipeg JetsHextall22–7–246W
32December 189–4New York IslandersHextall23–7–248W
33December 206–4@ Pittsburgh PenguinsHextall24–7–250W
34December 217–6St. Louis BluesResch25–7–252W
35December 231–2@ Buffalo SabresHextall25–8–252L
36December 272–4@ Vancouver CanucksHextall25–9–252L
37December 284–6@ Edmonton OilersHextall25–10–252L
38December 301–4@ Los Angeles KingsResch25–11–252L
January: 9–3–2, 20 points (home: 4–2–1; road: 5–1–1)
GameDateScoreOpponentDecisionRecordPointsRecap
39January 34–1@ Washington CapitalsHextall26–11–254W
40January 64–0New Jersey DevilsHextall27–11–256W
41January 76–3@ New York RangersHextall28–11–258W
42January 105–4@ Boston BruinsResch29–11–260W
43January 112–2 OTWashington CapitalsHextall29–11–361T
44January 156–3Montreal CanadiensHextall30–11–363W
45January 174–2@ New York IslandersResch31–11–365W
46January 181–3New York IslandersHextall31–12–365L
47January 215–5 OT@ Chicago BlackhawksHextall31–12–466T
48January 234–3Chicago BlackhawksHextall32–12–468W
49January 243–4@ New Jersey DevilsResch32–13–468L
50January 287–4@ Buffalo SabresHextall33–13–470W
51January 295–3Pittsburgh PenguinsHextall34–13–472W
52January 311–3New York RangersHextall34–14–472L
February: 3–5–1, 7 points (home: 0–1–1; road: 3–4–0)
GameDateScoreOpponentDecisionRecordPointsRecap
53February 24–8@ Toronto Maple LeafsResch34–15–472L
54February 43–5@ Winnipeg JetsHextall34–16–472L
55February 72–3@ New Jersey DevilsHextall34–17–472L
56February 144–2@ St. Louis BluesHextall35–17–474W
57February 160–5Calgary FlamesHextall35–18–474L
58February 173–2@ New York IslandersHextall36–18–476W
59February 194–4 OTPittsburgh PenguinsHextall36–18–577T
60February 214–2@ Los Angeles KingsHextall37–18–579W
61February 263–4@ Calgary FlamesHextall37–19–579L
March: 8–5–3, 19 points (home: 6–3–0; road: 2–2–3)
GameDateScoreOpponentDecisionRecordPointsRecap
62March 14–5@ Minnesota North StarsHextall37–20–579L
63March 34–2Buffalo SabresHextall38–20–581W
64March 54–2Washington CapitalsHextall39–20–583W
65March 73–5@ Hartford WhalersHextall39–21–583L
66March 87–3New Jersey DevilsResch40–21–585W
67March 116–4@ New Jersey DevilsHextall41–21–587W
68March 121–6New York RangersHextall41–22–587L
69March 143–3 OT@ Montreal CanadiensHextall41–22–688T
70March 155–2@ New York RangersResch42–22–690W
71March 174–1New York RangersHextall43–22–692W
72March 192–5Los Angeles KingsHextall43–23–692L
73March 212–2 OT@ Quebec NordiquesResch43–23–793T
74March 223–1Pittsburgh PenguinsHextall44–23–795W
75March 243–3 OT@ Pittsburgh PenguinsResch44–23–896T
76March 263–2 OTQuebec NordiquesHextall45–23–898W
77March 281–5Detroit Red WingsHextall45–24–898L
April: 1–2–0, 2 points (home: 0–1–0; road: 1–1–0)
GameDateScoreOpponentDecisionRecordPointsRecap
78April 12–1@ Detroit Red WingsHextall46–24–8100W
79April 42–3 OT@ Washington CapitalsResch46–25–8100L
80April 55–9New York IslandersHextall46–26–8100L

Legend: W Win (2 points) L Loss (0 points) T Tie (1 point)

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Playoffs

More information 1987 Stanley Cup playoffs, Game ...
1987 Stanley Cup playoffs[4]
Patrick Division semifinals vs. New York Rangers – Flyers win 4–2
GameDateScoreOpponentDecisionSeriesRecap
1April 80–3New York RangersHextallRangers lead 1–0L
2April 98–3New York RangersHextallSeries tied 1–1W
3April 113–0@ New York RangersHextallFlyers lead 2–1W
4April 123–6@ New York RangersHextallSeries tied 2–2L
5April 143–1New York RangersHextallFlyers lead 3–2W
6April 165–0@ New York RangersHextallFlyers win 4–2W
Patrick Division finals vs. New York Islanders – Flyers win 4–3
GameDateScoreOpponentDecisionSeriesRecap
1April 204–2New York IslandersHextallFlyers lead 1–0W
2April 221–2New York IslandersHextallSeries tied 1–1L
3April 244–1@ New York IslandersHextallFlyers lead 2–1W
4April 266–4@ New York IslandersHextallFlyers lead 3–1W
5April 281–2New York IslandersHextallFlyers lead 3–2L
6April 302–4@ New York IslandersHextallSeries tied 3–3L
7May 25–1New York IslandersHextallFlyers win 4–3W
Wales Conference finals vs. Montreal Canadiens – Flyers win 4–2
GameDateScoreOpponentDecisionSeriesRecap
1May 44–3 OTMontreal CanadiensHextallFlyers lead 1–0W
2May 62–5Montreal CanadiensHextallSeries tied 1–1L
3May 84–3@ Montreal CanadiensHextallFlyers lead 2–1W
4May 106–3@ Montreal CanadiensHextallFlyers lead 3–1W
5May 122–5Montreal CanadiensHextallFlyers lead 3–2L
6May 144–3@ Montreal CanadiensHextallFlyers win 4–2W
Stanley Cup Final vs. Edmonton Oilers – Oilers win 4–3
GameDateScoreOpponentDecisionSeriesRecap
1May 172–4@ Edmonton OilersHextallOilers lead 1–0L
2May 202–3 OT@ Edmonton OilersHextallOilers lead 2–0L
3May 225–3Edmonton OilersHextallOilers lead 2–1W
4May 241–4Edmonton OilersHextallOilers lead 3–1L
5May 264–3@ Edmonton OilersHextallOilers lead 3–2W
6May 283–2Edmonton OilersHextallSeries tied 3–3W
7May 311–3@ Edmonton OilersHextallOilers win 4–3L

Legend: W Win L Loss

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Player statistics

Scoring

  • Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing
  • † = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.
  • ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.
More information No., Player ...
No. Player Pos Regular season Playoffs
GP G A Pts +/- PIM GP G A Pts +/- PIM
12Tim KerrRW75583795385712851332
25Peter ZezelC7133397221712531013610
20Dave PoulinC75254570475315336114
26Brian ProppLW533136673945261216281110
2Mark HoweD6915435857372621012144
9Pelle EklundC72144155−222672027112
22Rick TocchetRW692128491628826111021772
32Murray CravenLW7719304913812314−49
3Doug CrossmanD789314018292641418031
10Brad McCrimmonD71102939455226358930
19Scott MellanbyRW71112132894245510746
24Derrick SmithLW71112132−434266410326
23Ilkka SinisaloLW4210213114818516−64
14Ron SutterC39101727106916178−312
18Lindsay CarsonLW71111526−214124358322
15J. J. DaigneaultD776162212569101−10
8Brad MarshD772911912426347216
21Dave BrownRW627310−727426123159
28Kjell Samuelsson†D46167−98626044425
27Ron HextallG660661042601143
11Glen SeabrookeC1014522——————
17Ed HospodarD45224−8136500002
7Brian DobbinRW12213214——————
29Daryl StanleyD3312367613000−39
36[a]Al HillLW702214921320
42Don NachbaurC230221877112215
41John StevensD6022014——————
37Mark FreerC101110——————
36Ray AllisonRW2000−20——————
34Craig BerubeLW70002575000017
6Jeff ChychrunD100004——————
35Bob Froese‡G30000——————
34Jere GillisLW100000——————
5Kerry HuffmanD900052——————
36Kevin McCarthyD2000−10——————
33Glenn ReschG17000020000
5Steve SmithD2000−26——————
40Greg SmythD1000−20100002
44Mike StothersD200004200017
37Tim TookeyC2000001013412
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Goaltending

  • ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.
More information No., Player ...
No. Player Regular season Playoffs
GP GS W L T SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI GP GS W L SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI
27Ron Hextall66663721619291903.01.90213,79226261511769712.76.90821,542
33Glenn Resch1711652435422.92.903086420001111.96.909031
35Bob Froese‡333008882.67.9090180——————————
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Awards and records

Awards

More information Type, Award/honor ...
Type Award/honor Recipient Ref
League
(annual)		 Conn Smythe Trophy Ron Hextall [5]
Frank J. Selke Trophy Dave Poulin [6]
NHL All-Rookie Team Ron Hextall (Goaltender) [7]
NHL first All-Star team Ron Hextall (Goaltender) [8]
Mark Howe (Defense)
NHL second All-Star team Tim Kerr (Right wing) [8]
Vezina Trophy Ron Hextall [9]
League
(in-season)		 NHL Player of the Month Ron Hextall (October) [10]
NHL Player of the Week Peter Zezel (January 12) [11]
NHL Rookie of the Month Ron Hextall (October) [12]
Ron Hextall (November) [13]
Rendez-vous '87 selection Ron Hextall[b] [14]
Mark Howe[c]
Tim Kerr[b]
Dave Poulin
Team Barry Ashbee Trophy Mark Howe [16]
Bobby Clarke Trophy Ron Hextall [16]
Class Guy Award Glenn Resch [16]
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Records

See also: List of Philadelphia Flyers records

Among the team records set during the 1986–87 season was the 26 seconds it took to score the fastest two shorthanded goals in team history on November 6.[17] On November 13, Murray Craven tied the team record for most goals in a single period (3).[18] On November 20, Tim Kerr tied team records for most goals (4) and powerplay goals (3) in a single game.[19][20] About two weeks later Brian Propp also tied the single game goals record on December 2.[19] Kerr's .77 goals per game average is a franchise single season high while the team's 22 shorthanded goals on the season is a team record.[21][22]

During game two of their division semifinal series against the New York Rangers, the Flyers tied the team record for most goals in a single period (5).[23] During game seven of their division final series against the New York Islanders, the Flyers tied a team record for shorthanded goals in a game (2) and set a team record for shorthanded goals during a single period (2, later tied).[24][25] During game five of the Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers, Propp tied a team record for most assists (4) during a playoff game.[26]

A number of single playoff season team records were set during the 1987 Stanley Cup playoffs. The Flyers set playoff highs for games played (26), wins (15), road wins (8), losses (11), home losses (6), goals scored (85), and goals against (73).[27] Among the skaters setting single season marks were Pelle Eklund for assists (20), Doug Crossman for points by a defenseman (18, later tied), and Propp for shots on goal (104).[28][29][30] Rookie Ron Hextall set the goaltending marks for games played (26, tied for the NHL record), wins (15), losses (11), minutes played (1,542), and goals against (71).[31][32][33][34][35] Hextall’s 43 penalty minutes is a single playoff season NHL record for goaltenders.[36]

Milestones

More information Milestone, Player ...
Milestone Player Date Ref
First game Ron Hextall October 9, 1986 [37]
Kerry Huffman
Jeff Chychrun December 2, 1986
Brian Dobbin January 10, 1987
Glen Seabrooke January 17, 1987
Mark Freer January 28, 1987
John Stevens
Greg Smyth February 2, 1987
Craig Berube March 22, 1987
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Transactions

The Flyers were involved in the following transactions from May 25, 1986, the day after the deciding game of the 1986 Stanley Cup Final, through May 31, 1987, the day of the deciding game of the 1987 Stanley Cup Final.[38]

Trades

More information Date, Details ...
Date Details Ref
June 6, 1986 (1986-06-06) To Philadelphia Flyers
To Vancouver Canucks
[39]
June 21, 1986 (1986-06-21) To Philadelphia Flyers
  • 2nd-round pick in 1987
 To Quebec Nordiques
  • 2nd-round pick in 1986
 [40]
To Philadelphia Flyers
To New York Islanders
  • 5th-round pick in 1986
 [40]
October 30, 1986 (1986-10-30) To Philadelphia Flyers
To Montreal Canadiens
  • Andre Villeneuve
 [41]
December 18, 1986 (1986-12-18) To Philadelphia Flyers
To New York Rangers
[42]
March 9, 1987 (1987-03-09) To Philadelphia Flyers
To Edmonton Oilers
[43]
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Players acquired

More information Date, Player ...
DatePlayerFormer teamTermViaRef
June 12, 1986 (1986-06-12) Ed HospodarMinnesota North Stars1 year[d]Free agency[44]
June 30, 1986 (1986-06-30) Mitch LamoureuxPittsburgh PenguinsFree agency[45]
October 1986 (1986-10) Jere GillisVancouver CanucksFree agency[46]
October 7, 1986 (1986-10-07) Mark FreerPeterborough Petes (OHL)Free agency[47]
Mike MacWilliamNew Westminster Bruins (WHL)Free agency[48]
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Players lost

More information Date, Player ...
DatePlayerNew teamViaRef
June 12, 1986 (1986-06-12) Thomas ErikssonDjurgardens IF (SHL)Free agency[e][44]
July 23, 1986 (1986-07-23) Carl MokosakPittsburgh PenguinsFree agency[49]
N/A Bo BerglundAIK IF (Division 1)Free agency[50]
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Signings

More information Date, Player ...
DatePlayerTermRef
June 1, 1986 (1986-06-01) Glenn Resch1-year[51]
August 18, 1986 (1986-08-18) Steve Smith[52]
October 8, 1986 (1986-10-08) Kerry Huffmanmulti-year[53]
October 21, 1986 (1986-10-21) Ron Hextallmulti-year extension[54]
October 29, 1986 (1986-10-29) Brad McCrimmon1-year[55]
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Draft picks

See also: List of Philadelphia Flyers draft picks

Philadelphia's picks at the 1986 NHL entry draft, which was held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, on June 21, 1986.[56] The Flyers traded their second-round pick, 41st overall, to the Quebec Nordiques for the Nordiques' 1987 second-round pick on June 21, 1986.[57] They also traded their third-round pick, 62nd overall, to the New Jersey Devils for Chico Resch on March 11, 1986, and their fifth-round pick, 104th overall, to the New York Islanders for Mike Murray on June 21, 1986.[57] The Flyers declined to make a selection in the inaugural NHL supplemental draft, which was held September 17, 1986.[58]

More information Round, Pick ...
Round Pick Player Position Nationality Team (league) Notes
1 20 Kerry Huffman Defense  Canada Guelph Platers (OHL)
2 23 Jukka-Pekka Seppo Center  Finland Vasa Sport (Mestis) [f]
28 Kent Hawley Center  Canada Ottawa 67's (OHL) [g]
4 83 Mark Bar Defense  Canada Peterborough Petes (OHL) [h]
6 125 Steve Scheifele Right wing  United States Stratford Cullitons (OPJHL)
7 146 Sami Wahlsten Forward  Finland TPS Turku (SM-liiga)
8 167 Murray Baron Defense  Canada Vernon Lakers (BCJHL)
9 184 Blaine Rude Forward  United States Fergus Falls High School (N. Dakota)
10 209 Shaun Sabol Defense  United States St. Paul Vulcans (USHL)
11 230 Brett Lawrence Right wing  United States Rochester Junior Americans
12 251 Dan Stephano Goaltender  United States Northwood School (N.Y.)
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Farm teams

The Flyers were affiliated with the Hershey Bears of the AHL[59][60] and the Kalamazoo Wings of the IHL.[61]

Notes

  1. [a]
    Hill wore number 28 in his first two games.
  2. [b]
    Did not play
  3. [c]
    Howe was voted to the starting lineup but did not play.[15]
  4. [d]
    Option for second year
  5. [e]
    Eriksson retired from the NHL.
  6. [f]
    The Flyers traded Paul Guay and their fourth-round pick, 83rd overall, to the Los Angeles Kings for Steve Seguin and the Kings' second-round pick, 23rd overall, on October 11, 1985.[57]
  7. [g]
    The Flyers traded Rich Sutter, Dave Richter, and Vancouver's third-round pick, 49th overall, to the Vancouver Canucks for J. J. Daigneault, the Canucks' second-round pick, 28th overall, and the Canucks' 1987 fifth-round pick on June 6, 1986.[57]
  8. [h]
    The Flyers reacquired their fourth-round pick, 83rd overall, from the Los Angeles Kings for Joe Paterson on December 18, 1985.[57]

References

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