Today in Flyers history: Forty-two years ago today, on June 8, 1972, Flyers general manager Keith Allen and his scouting staff had what proved to be one of the most crucial NHL Drafts in franchise history. Each of the team's first four picks would go on to play important roles with the club.

In the first round. prophetically enough with the seventh overall , the Flyers selected left wing Bill Barber. At the conclusion of his 12-year career with the Flyers (1972-73 through 1983-84), Barber retired as the Flyers' all-time leader in goals with 420. He is second on the team's all-time list in points with 883 (420G,463A). He was inducted into the Flyers Hall of Fame in 1989 and the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1990. His number 7 sweater was retired by the Flyers.

In the second through fourth rounds, the Flyers drafted defenseman Tom Bladon (second round, 23rd overall), future five-time NHL All-Star defenseman Jimmy Watson (third round, 39th overall) and left wing Al MacAdam (fourth round, 55th overall).

Barber, Bladon and Watson were members of both of the Flyers' Stanley Cup Championship teams (1973-74 and 1974-75). MacAdam, a future NHL 40-goal scorer, was later traded in the deal that brought Reggie Leach to Philadelphia.

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