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

good morning fellow flyers fans. Hope you all have a productive day.

Knuble coaches his kids hockey team for Fox Motors.

Always thought it was a mistake for the Red Wings to let him go early in his career. But they were stacked on the wing and there was no room for him. Too bad, he had a pretty stellar career.

Knuble was just one of those guys that knew how to score....not gifted with blazing speed or an amazing shot, he just always went to the goal scorers area on the ice, and always seemed to get himself in position to score. That in it self is a skill....

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.

As his 30s progressed, Knuble remained a perennial 20-plus goal scorer.
- bmeltzer

But I've been told by numerous people that no power forwards are able to still be productive in their early-to-mid-30s.

asdf

Knuble was the perfect complement to Gagne and Forsberg. His ability to win puck battles along the wall along with his ability to go to the net and finish was exactly what they needed to complete that line.

But I've been told by numerous people that no power forwards are able to still be productive in their early-to-mid-30s.
- jmatchett383

Really? They said that none of them are able to be productive? Numerous people no less? This sounds like a scandal of epic proportions.

I would agree if they said some. Or if they said it was sometimes a risk to sign an older forward to a long term deal even if they are productive at the time.

But to say that NO power forward are able to be productive after 30? That is just scandalous. SCANDALOUS I say!!!

Really? They said that none of them are able to be productive? Numerous people no less? This sounds like a scandal of epic proportions.

I would agree if they said some. Or if they said it was sometimes a risk to sign an older forward to a long term deal even if they are productive at the time.

But to say that NO power forward are able to be productive after 30? That is just scandalous. SCANDALOUS I say!!!
- MBFlyerfan

Obvious hyperbole on my part.

Knuble was the only person that my wife was honestly star struck in meeting She's met countless Flyers and even met Sir Patrick Stewart, but she had to sit down and collect herself after she met Knuble.

Edit: We went to his first game back in 12/13, and she was so excited to wear her Knuble jersey. I thought she was gonna have a breakdown when he scored.

Obvious hyperbole on my part.
- jmatchett383

That's ok. Without hyperbole, exaggeration, temper tantrums and blind panic, this site would cease to exist.

Knuble was the only person that my wife was honestly star struck in meeting She's met countless Flyers and even met Sir Patrick Stewart, but she had to sit down and collect herself after she met Knuble.
- jmatchett383

I can only think of a two times where I've been star struck when meeting someone:

Andre the Giant
I met him at the Philadelphia Airport when I was 10. I was absolutely speechless. He was really nice and got down on one knee to chat with me and my siblings who were all big wrestling fans.

Bernie Parent
He was my idol as a kid and the first time I met him, I could barely get a word out. He's such a nice guy. I've met him a few times since and have had some great conversations with him.

That's ok. Without hyperbole, exaggeration, temper tantrums and blind panic, this site would cease to exist.
- BiggE

Just doing my part to keep the train rolling.

So with the Flyers having turned 50, I thought it would be fun to break it down into 10 year segments and pick the top 10 Flyers in each era.

Here are my top 10 for 1967-1977

1. Bobby Clarke
2. Bernie Parent
3. Rick Macleish
4. Bill Barber
5. Ed Van Impe
6. Barry Ashbee
7. Gary Dornhoefer
8. Dave Schultz
9. Joe Watson
10. Andre Lacroix

1977-1987 will follow soon.

So with the Flyers having turned 50, I thought it would be fun to break it down into 10 year segments and pick the top 10 Flyers in each era.

Here are my top 10 for 1967-1977

1. Bobby Clarke
2. Bernie Parent
3. Rick Macleish
4. Bill Barber
5. Ed Van Impe
6. Barry Ashbee
7. Gary Dornhoefer
8. Dave Schultz
9. Joe Watson
10. Andre Lacroix

1977-1987 will follow soon.
- BiggE

No Kelly/Leach? No Dornhoeffer?

And now, 1977-1987. This was a tough one as there is lot of overlap between the great players of the 70s and the great players of the early 80s and most of the Keenan era. When considering my rankings, I only looked at what the players accomplished within this 10 year period of time.

And here we go:

1. Mark Howe
2. Bill Barber
3. Bobby Clarke
4. Tim Kerr
5. Brian Propp
6. Bob Dailey
7. Pelle Lindbergh
8. Dave Poulin
9. Paul Holmgren
10. Brad McCrimmon

Some guys that came very close to making the list:
Jimmy Watson- still the best dman on the team in 1977, but by 1980 he was pretty much a shell of himself due to injury

Darryl Sittler- played extremely well for the Flyers, but he wasn't here that long and they did nothing in the playoffs while he was.

Ken Linseman- the Rat came close, but he just didn't make enough of an impact for a long enough time

Rick Tocchet, Brad Marsh and Ron Sutter all had some consideration but just missed the cut

Pete Peeters did play well enough for long enough to make it.

Ron Hextall-almost made it just on the strength of his 86-87 season, but I just didn't think that one year was enough to get him in the top 10.

Next up, 1987-1997

No Kelly/Leach? No Dornhoeffer?
- jmatchett383

Dornhoefer is 7th. Leach came close, but he really had only 1 great and 1 very good season during that 10 year frame. He probably would be 11th on my list though. Kelly would be behind a few guys besides these 10.

That's ok. Without hyperbole, exaggeration, temper tantrums and blind panic, this site would cease to exist.
- BiggE

along with your rankings on numerous subjects.

Dornhoefer is 7th. Leach came close, but he really had only 1 great and 1 very good season during that 10 year frame. He probably would be 11th on my list though. Kelly would be behind a few guys besides these 10.
- BiggE

Haha, I was actually kidding about Dorny, didn't even remember him being on the list because I never thought he was all that good (not bad, but not top-10). Was it mostly for the OT winner?

And now, 1977-1987. This was a tough one as there is lot of overlap between the great players of the 70s and the great players of the early 80s and most of the Keenan era. When considering my rankings, I only looked at what the players accomplished within this 10 year period of time.

And here we go:

1. Mark Howe
2. Bill Barber
3. Bobby Clarke
4. Tim Kerr
5. Brian Propp
6. Bob Dailey
7. Pelle Lindbergh
8. Dave Poulin
9. Paul Holmgren
10. Brad McCrimmon

Some guys that came very close to making the list:
Jimmy Watson- still the best dman on the team in 1977, but by 1980 he was pretty much a shell of himself due to injury

Darryl Sittler- played extremely well for the Flyers, but he wasn't here that long and they did nothing in the playoffs while he was.

Ken Linseman- the Rat came close, but he just didn't make enough of an impact for a long enough time

Rick Tocchet, Brad Marsh and Ron Sutter all had some consideration but just missed the cut

Pete Peeters did play well enough for long enough to make it.

Ron Hextall-almost made it just on the strength of his 86-87 season, but I just didn't think that one year was enough to get him in the top 10.

Next up, 1987-1997
- BiggE

no mel bridgeman or behn Wilson?

And now, 1987-1997. It doesn't get any easier


1. Eric Lindros
2. Rod Brind'amour
3. John Leclair
4. Michael Renberg
5. Rick Tocchet
6. Mark Recchi
7. Ron Hextall
8. Eric Desjardins
9. Mark Howe
10. Kevin Dineen

Coming close were:
Garry Galley
Kjell Samuelsson
Pelle Eklund

Haha, I was actually kidding about Dorny, didn't even remember him being on the list because I never thought he was all that good (not bad, but not top-10). Was it mostly for the OT winner?
- jmatchett383

The OT winner factored in, but it was more than that. He was the first real net front guy in team history and one of the few guys that could score during the pre bullies years. He's in the Flyers Hall of Fame and I think his spot is deserved. He was also a true warrior and played through a ton of serious injuries. In fact, he still suffers the lingering effect of many of those injuries today.

And now, 1977-1987. This was a tough one as there is lot of overlap between the great players of the 70s and the great players of the early 80s and most of the Keenan era. When considering my rankings, I only looked at what the players accomplished within this 10 year period of time.

And here we go:

1. Mark Howe
2. Bill Barber
3. Bobby Clarke
4. Tim Kerr
5. Brian Propp
6. Bob Dailey
7. Pelle Lindbergh
8. Dave Poulin
9. Paul Holmgren
10. Brad McCrimmon

Some guys that came very close to making the list:
Jimmy Watson- still the best dman on the team in 1977, but by 1980 he was pretty much a shell of himself due to injury

Darryl Sittler- played extremely well for the Flyers, but he wasn't here that long and they did nothing in the playoffs while he was.

Ken Linseman- the Rat came close, but he just didn't make enough of an impact for a long enough time

Rick Tocchet, Brad Marsh and Ron Sutter all had some consideration but just missed the cut

Pete Peeters did play well enough for long enough to make it.

Ron Hextall-almost made it just on the strength of his 86-87 season, but I just didn't think that one year was enough to get him in the top 10.

Next up, 1987-1997
- BiggE

This is the first 10 year span I can actually remember as the cup teams were just as I was starting to become a sports fan outside of baseball which for some odd reason I started to understand at age 3...

Your list is pretty much spot on for the guys who cemented my Flyer fandom. Howe and the Beast were my two favorite Flyers.

And now, 1987-1997. It doesn't get any easier


1. Eric Lindros
2. Rod Brind'amour
3. John Leclair
4. Michael Renberg
5. Rick Tocchet
6. Mark Recchi
7. Ron Hextall
8. Eric Desjardins
9. Mark Howe
10. Kevin Dineen

Coming close were:
Garry Galley
Kjell Samuelsson
Pelle Eklund
- BiggE

I'd squeeze Per-Erik in at #10 instead of Dineen but can't fault you there.

The OT winner factored in, but it was more than that. He was the first real net front guy in team history and one of the few guys that could score during the pre bullies years. He's in the Flyers Hall of Fame and I think his spot is deserved. He was also a true warrior and played through a ton of serious injuries. In fact, he still suffers the lingering effect of many of those injuries today.
- BiggE

Fair enough. Keep in mind, this was more than 10 years before I was born, so I never got to see any of them play on a game by game basis.