The Flyers have always done an outstanding job at honoring the people who helped to shape their history, especially the top players from the Broad Street Bullies and Keenan era clubs. That's why I have always been puzzled by the fact that
Jimmy Watson has become all but forgotten for his excellence on the team's blueline during the 1970s to early 1980s.
He is the only remaining key player from the 1970s who has yet to be enshrined in the Flyers Hall of Fame. Rarely recalled nowadays, he was also omitted from CSN Philly's
My Favorite Flyer poll.
"I don't think there's any doubt that Jimmy was a better natural player than I was," said older brother Joe Watson, a two-time NHL All-Star who is enshrined in the Flyers Hall of Fame. "He was bigger and faster than me, much smoother."
Unfortunately for Jim Watson, his career ended at age 30, one season after undergoing spinal fusion surgery. But he still compiled an impressive career legacy in his nine-plus seasons in the NHL.
On a team level, he was part of both Stanley Cup winning Flyers' clubs. On an individual basis, he played in five NHL All-Star games and won a pair of Barry Ashbee Trophies as the Flyers best defenseman (the award was not created until his third pro season). By the end of his second full NHL season, Watson was usually out on the ice when the opposition sent out its top line. For his career, he finished with a +295 defensive rating, good for fifth in franchise history. Among Flyers defensemen, only Mark Howe (+349) ranks higher.
Quite frankly, I think it was a joke that Dave Schultz got inducted in the team's HOF ahead of the younger Watson brother. No, Watson was not as iconic a figure of the Broad Street Bullies image as the Hammer. He wasn't the same sort of enduring local celebrity as Schultz, getting recognized wherever he goes in the Philadelphia area even to this day.
Let's be honest here: "Dave Schultz Night" had much more marquee value -- and instant media notability -- than "Jimmy Watson Night" ever would.
But Watson was three times the hockey player that Schultz ever was: a top-pairing NHL defenseman versus a third line/fourth line enforcer. People forget that the Hammer only spent four-plus seasons in Philadelphia, while Watson spent his entire career in orange and black. Schultz also parted ways with the Flyers on bad terms (it took many years to mend fences) and had a much more tumultuous off-ice life than Watson.
While he wasn't nearly as colorful or quotable as his older brother, Jimmy was a well-liked and well-respected player throughout the NHL. He has also maintained a good relationship with the Flyers' organization through the years, and has made the Philadelphia suburbs his permanent home.
Last but not least, I defy you to find a better homegrown defenseman in Flyers' history. Almost all of the other top blueliners in club history have entered the organization via trade or free agency.
In short, there's not a single good reason that I can think of why Watson has never gotten in to the club's Hall of Fame. Yes, his career ended far too soon. No, he never put up big offensive totals. But he was a shutdown defenseman and almost perennial all-star (whenever he had a reasonably healthy season) during the most rough-and-tumble era of hockey. When will it finally be his turn?
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In terms of other candidates for the Flyers' HOF, I'm almost positive that Rick Tocchet will be selected in the near future, and quite possibly will be the next player inducted (ahead of Jim Watson).
With the exception of Pelle Lindbergh and coach Mike Keenan, virtually every other potentially qualified candidate from the 1980s has been inducted: Mark Howe, Dave Poulin, Brian Propp, Tim Kerr, Ron Hextall.
I suppose that cases could be made for fan favorite Brad Marsh, Ilkka Sinisalo or Pelle Eklund but I don't think any of them will be chosen. After Tocchet, I think it will be time to move on to players from the 1990s: John LeClair, Eric Desjardins, Rod Brind'Amour and, yes, Eric Lindros.
In recent years, there has been a slight thaw in the icy relationship between Eric Lindros and the Flyers organization. Has it come far enough for an Eric Lindros Night and HOF induction? I'm not sure.
I don't think that Bob Clarke would object at this point, and I think that enough years have passed where Lindros himself can access good memories of his years in Philadelphia to commit to attending a night in his honor. However, I do have doubts if Ed Snider can let go of the anger and lasting bitterness at the Lindros clan.
Meanwhile, LeClair, Brind'Amour and Desjardins are shoo-ins for the Flyers Hall of Fame. It's just a question of whether Tocchet, Watson and possibly Keenan go first. Waiting a little longer on LeClair and Desjardins also buys a few more years to wait on Lindros, but that's hardly a reason to delay their inductions.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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