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Flyers 25 in 25: Mike Knuble, Quick Hits on Voracek and Others

August 15, 2017, 7:34 AM ET [173 Comments]
Bill Meltzer
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • RSSArchiveCONTACT
TOP 25 IN THE LAST 25 YEARS: MIKE KNUBLE

Mike Knuble had one of the NHL's most unusual careers. He was one of the game's ultimate late-bloomers as he evolved from a fourth-line role player to a power forward who was a fine complement to skilled linemates. He became a strong net-front scoring presence and was always a conscientious player on both sides of the puck who excelled in board work.

Of the 278 goals Knuble scored in the regular season during his 1,068-game NHL career, 228 came after the age of 30. Off the ice, the University of Michigan graduate was a locker room leader and one of the NHL's most articulate and analytical players. He was a galvanizing player both among younger and peer-aged teammates.

In Boston, Knuble found his first NHL-level offensive success at age 30 as the left wing on a line with Joe Thornton and Glen Murray. Knuble enjoyed his first 30-goal season in 2002-03 after never having previously notched more than 15 goals (as a member of the New York Rangers in 1998-99).

Knuble signed with the Flyers as a free agent in the summer of 2004 but the NHL's year-long lockout wiped out the 2004-05 season. When play resumed for the 2005-06 season, Knuble became the right winger on a prolific scoring line with Peter Forsberg and Simon Gagne. In his first season as a Flyer, Knuble attained career highs in both goals (34) and points (65). His line was dubbed the "Deuces Wild" trio, because Knuble wore uniform No. 22, Gagne wore No. 12 and Forsberg sported the familiar No. 21 he'd worn with Quebec/Colorado.



As his 30s progressed, Knuble remained a perennial 20-plus goal scorer. Injuries limited him to 64 games during the Flyers' disastrous 2006-07 season that saw an ailing Forsberg traded to Nashville near the trade deadline. Knuble still managed 24 goals and 54 points while staying on the positive side of the plus-minus ledger on a team that went 22-48-12.

A frightening accidental collision with the New York Rangers' Brendan Shanahan in the third period on Feb. 17, 2007 left Knuble with a fractured orbital bone and rendered Shanahan unconscious and concussed. Knuble missed 12 games after undergoing surgery. Stretchered off the ice, Shanahan missed 15 games. Approximately two weeks after the Flyers' season ended, Knuble underwent shoulder surgery.

Even with Forsberg gone, Knuble still remained productive as the right winger on a line with Mike Richards and Gagne. In 2007-08, the overhauled Flyers rebounded to reach the Eastern Conference Final. Knuble did his part by scoring 29 regular season goals and 55 points while dressing in all 82 regular season games.



In the 2008 playoffs, Knuble added seven points (three goals, four assists) in 12 matches. His biggest tally was the double-OT winner in Game 2 of the Flyers' first-round series against the Washington Capitals.

The next season, a 36-year-old Knuble once again dressed in every regular season game and contributed 27 goals and 47 points. In a hard-fought six-game loss to the Penguins in the first round of the playoffs -- the second straight year Pittsburgh beat the Flyers in the playoffs -- Knuble had a pair of goals and an assist in the series.

Although Knuble had discussions with the Flyers about extending his contract, he ultimately decided to take a more lucrative multi-year contract offer to sign with the Washington Capitals and an unrestricted free agent. Seasons of 29 and 24 goals followed his first two years with the Caps. His role was reduced significantly by 2011-12; the final year of his contract.

Unsigned heading into the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season, Knuble stayed close to home in Michigan and pondered the beginning of a coaching career. He dressed in one AHL game with the Grand Rapids Griffins.

However, with the Flyers struggling and riddled with injuries to Scott Hartnell, Danny Briere, Matt Read and others, general manager Paul Holmgren reached out to the 40-year-old Knuble to sign a contract for the rest of the season. He finished out his NHL career with 28 games for the Flyers, adding four more goals and four assists to his career totals.



After retiring as an active player, Knuble focused fully on coaching. He served first as a development coach for the Red Wings organization and then as an AHL assistant coach for the last three seasons with the Red Wings-affiliated Griffins. He's also done some coaching with USA Hockey.

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QUICK HITS: AUGUST 15, 2017

1) Congratulations go out to a pair of Flyers Alumni. Flyers Hall of Fame defenseman Jim Watson's son Brett celebrated the arrival of a baby boy, Dean. Meanwhile, fellow Smithers. BC native Ron Flockhart got married over the weekend in Sicamous, BC. Among the attendees were former Flyers teammate T.J. Gorence.

2) Flyers right winger Jakub Voracek celebrates his 28th birthday today. Flyers Alumni Martin Biron (turning 40 today), Craig MacTavish (59) and the late Jim Cunningham (1956-2011) were also born on this day.



3) SHL Preseason Hockey: Tuesday's preseason games in Sweden include a match between Djurgårdens IF Stockholm and Mora IK. Flyers defense prospect David Bernhardt plays for DIF while forward prospect David Kase plays for Mora.
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