Most likely the Kings, so we can hear about how the Kings won the trade. Carter with GWGs in games 4-6 and Mike Richards with a 5-on-3 SHG to win Game 7.
- jmatchett383

i would have guessed phoenix with pronger suddenly healthy enough to play. Comes out and destroys G the opening shift of game 4. not only leads to a finals collapse of the greatest team in league history but also ends G's career and sets the club back 15 years.

the Flyers have to lead the league in tragedies

the Flyers have to lead the league in tragedies
- vejim

Snider sold his soul to the devil.

It's the only way that I can explain Clarke still being available in the 2nd round in '69 and Buffalo beating Montreal in the 75 semifinals.

Snider sold his soul to the devil.

It's the only way that I can explain Clarke still being available in the 2nd round in '69 and Buffalo beating Montreal in the 75 semifinals.
- BiggE

Patrick Elias now makes so much sense.

Patrick Elias now makes so much sense.
- jmatchett383

Also, I have yet to see the devil and Tomas Sandstrom in the same room.

just sayin.....

I was lucky enough to meet and have a conversation with Jimmy Watson at an event the day after the Winter Classic Alumni game. Probably one of the nicest 5 time all stars you will ever meet in any sport.
- johndewar

I see him all the time at iceworks and he is also so nice. always takes the time to say hi and chat if not running off to do a clinic. its so overdue that he is going into the FHOF

Also, I have yet to see the devil and Tomas Sandstrom in the same room.

just sayin.....
- BiggE

Dave Brown: the only mortal brave enough to cross-check the devil himself in the head.

Snider sold his soul to the devil.

It's the only way that I can explain Clarke still being available in the 2nd round in '69 and Buffalo beating Montreal in the 75 semifinals.
- BiggE

thanks to KJ for saving #88s life

I see him all the time at iceworks and he is also so nice. always takes the time to say hi and chat if not running off to do a clinic. its so overdue that he is going into the FHOF
- nastyflyergirl

the Watsons were always fan friendly as players

Thanks Bill. Great write up on Dupre. In addition, everyone knows the Pelle Lindbergh's story. Without sounding too morbid, could you cover other Flyers that had their careers cut short?
Two thumbs up for Danny B. Great career, great person, and a great commercial where he shot the puck at warehouse windows...lol. I hope that you find the next chapter in your hockey life soon.
- OrangeAndBlack1

Off the top of my head, apart from Pelle and Yanick:

Bruce Gamble -- Heart attack, retired at age 33
Barry Ashbee -- Severe eye injury, retired at age 34
Barry Parent -- Severe eye injury, retired at age 35
Dmitri Tertyshny -- fatal boating accident, age 23
Bob Dailey -- Shattered leg, retired at age 28
Jimmy Watson -- back injury, retired at 29
Glen Seabrook -- severe shoulder injury, retired at age 22
Keith Primeau -- post-concussion syndrome, retired at age 34
Ian Laperriere -- post-concussion syndrome, (unofficially) retired at 36
Chris Pronger -- post-concussion syndrome, (unofficially) retired at 37
Eric Wellwood -- severe leg injury, retired at age 23
Marc-Andre Bourdon -- post-concussion syndrome, retired at age 25

Off the top of my head, apart from Pelle and Yanick:

Bruce Gamble -- Heart attack, retired at age 33
Barry Ashbee -- Severe eye injury, retired at age 34
Barry Parent -- Severe eye injury, retired at age 35
Dmitri Tertyshny -- fatal boating accident, age 23
Bob Dailey -- Shattered leg, retired at age 28
Jimmy Watson -- back injury, retired at 29
Glen Seabrook -- severe shoulder injury, retired at age 22
Keith Primeau -- post-concussion syndrome, retired at age 34
Ian Laperriere -- post-concussion syndrome, (unofficially) retired at 36
Chris Pronger -- post-concussion syndrome, (unofficially) retired at 37
Eric Wellwood -- severe leg injury, retired at age 23
Marc-Andre Bourdon -- post-concussion syndrome, retired at age 25
- bmeltzer

Man, you guys are just rays of sunshine today.

- Feanor

Off the top of my head, apart from Pelle and Yanick:

Bruce Gamble -- Heart attack, retired at age 33
Barry Ashbee -- Severe eye injury, retired at age 34
Barry Parent -- Severe eye injury, retired at age 35
Dmitri Tertyshny -- fatal boating accident, age 23
Bob Dailey -- Shattered leg, retired at age 28
Jimmy Watson -- back injury, retired at 29
Glen Seabrook -- severe shoulder injury, retired at age 22
Keith Primeau -- post-concussion syndrome, retired at age 34
Ian Laperriere -- post-concussion syndrome, (unofficially) retired at 36
Chris Pronger -- post-concussion syndrome, (unofficially) retired at 37
Eric Wellwood -- severe leg injury, retired at age 23
Marc-Andre Bourdon -- post-concussion syndrome, retired at age 25
- bmeltzer

Rathje?

Off the top of my head, apart from Pelle and Yanick:

Bruce Gamble -- Heart attack, retired at age 33
Barry Ashbee -- Severe eye injury, retired at age 34
Barry Parent -- Severe eye injury, retired at age 35
Dmitri Tertyshny -- fatal boating accident, age 23
Bob Dailey -- Shattered leg, retired at age 28
Jimmy Watson -- back injury, retired at 29
Glen Seabrook -- severe shoulder injury, retired at age 22
Keith Primeau -- post-concussion syndrome, retired at age 34
Ian Laperriere -- post-concussion syndrome, (unofficially) retired at 36
Chris Pronger -- post-concussion syndrome, (unofficially) retired at 37
Eric Wellwood -- severe leg injury, retired at age 23
Marc-Andre Bourdon -- post-concussion syndrome, retired at age 25
- bmeltzer

Doesn't #88 belong on that list?

Ooooo me me!!

Hatcher?!
Forsberg?!
Lindros?!

Off the top of my head, apart from Pelle and Yanick:

Bruce Gamble -- Heart attack, retired at age 33
Barry Ashbee -- Severe eye injury, retired at age 34
Barry Parent -- Severe eye injury, retired at age 35
Dmitri Tertyshny -- fatal boating accident, age 23
Bob Dailey -- Shattered leg, retired at age 28
Jimmy Watson -- back injury, retired at 29
Glen Seabrook -- severe shoulder injury, retired at age 22
Keith Primeau -- post-concussion syndrome, retired at age 34
Ian Laperriere -- post-concussion syndrome, (unofficially) retired at 36
Chris Pronger -- post-concussion syndrome, (unofficially) retired at 37
Eric Wellwood -- severe leg injury, retired at age 23
Marc-Andre Bourdon -- post-concussion syndrome, retired at age 25
- bmeltzer

Lindros and maybe Forsberg too you could count, and JR was never the same after that mouth injury....

Rathje?
- TheGreat28

Missed your appearance last night.

Nice write-up, Bill.

I was fortunate to have Jimmy Watson run my old team's pre-tournament practices which we hired the Ice Works to do for us. We did not know Jimmy himself was going to run the "clinic." As Providence would have it, my first wife passed between our last and second-to-last practices in May 2007. I thanked Jimmy for doing the practices for us and why I needed to be on the ice ("she would have wanted me to go," I said). Jimmy switched gears from coach to mentor and was a gracious ear and advisor. I'll never forget that. It was really exciting being able to tell him about our tournament victory in Toronto when we returned in June. The practices and tournament helped me cope.

Hockey is the best team sport, in my opinion. You have to work together with four other players (5, in your own zone) to get the job done. That sort of bond helps with off-ice issues, too -- even if it's "just a beer league team."

Happy birthday, Mr. Watson!

Man, you guys are just rays of sunshine today.
- BiggE

Hey, I only talk about 1 death in my post above and it's not even a Flyer.

/deathjoke

Rathje?
- TheGreat28

I think that Rathje is more a player who had degenerative defects due to their playing days (bad knees) as opposed to clear-cut injuries due to one play (or off-ice accident). If he suffered a broken knee and never played again, then he'd be on the list. Otherwise, guys like Hatcher, Renberg, Forsberg, etc. would be on the list.

Doesn't #88 belong on that list?
- FlyersFirst

Didn't retire as a Flyer and (I think) he retired healthy, or as healthy as he could be. It wasn't forced retirement.

I took the list as players who were forced to retire due to 1 specific on-ice or off-ice incident. But if we want to go down this path, then every single NHL player should be on it because they all had to stop playing when their bodies couldn't keep up with the game.

I think that Rathje is more a player who had degenerative defects due to their playing days (bad knees) as opposed to clear-cut injuries due to one play (or off-ice accident). If he suffered a broken knee and never played again, then he'd be on the list. Otherwise, guys like Hatcher, Renberg, Forsberg, etc. would be on the list.



Didn't retire as a Flyer and (I think) he retired healthy, or as healthy as he could be. It wasn't forced retirement.
- jmatchett383

Lindros' wrist/arm woes were the cause of his eventual retirement, IIRC.

It really says something about this area and this franchise that so many players choose to remain here and involved with the local communities and the team after their playing days are finished.

It makes me proud of both.

Lindros' wrist/arm woes were the cause of his eventual retirement, IIRC.
- Flyskippy

He played for a year and a half after that. Mark Recchi's age was the cause of his eventual retirement. That's a health issue, too.

Lindros and maybe Forsberg too you could count, and JR was never the same after that mouth injury....
- PVL29

They didn't retire as Flyers, though.

With JR, playing through concussions took their toll. He would not have been able to play had the 2004-05 season not been canceled -- he had severe symptoms for something like six months but was recovered enough by the time the lockout ended to come back and play. Never close to the same player again, though.