97.5 The Fanatic Flyers Roundup: Eric Lindros On Physicality in the Modern NHL
The Philadelphia Flyers announced their Alumni Weekend festivities on January 26-28 as part of the golden anniversary celebration of the 1974 Stanley Cup team. Eric Lindros, who will suit up for the Flyers Alumni Game, also shared some interesting commentary on the lack of physical play in the modern NHL.
On the ice, they finished a rare eight-game stretch of all Metropolitan Division opponents with a 4-3-1 record. They began a Western Conference stretch with a win over the Arizona Coyotes at Mullett Arena on Thursday. The victory capped off a 3-0-0 week.
- Saturday 12/2: Flyers 4, Pittsburgh Penguins 3 (SO)
- Monday 12/4: Flyers 2, Pittsburgh Penguins 1 (OT)
- Thursday 12/7: Flyers 4, Arizona Coyotes 1
Flyers Sink Rival Penguins
Wins against the Penguins used to set the city on fire. The Flyers swept their cross-state rivals in a home-and-home series with two victories after regulation. Sam Ersson stopped 29 of 32 shots he faced in the first matchup, and Carter Hart turned away 31 of 32 in the second.
Why wasn’t the juice there when Sean Couturier scored the game-winner at the Wells Fargo Center on Monday?
“I don’t know about a rivalry. I guess it is. It’s the same state and all that. At least my tenure here. I think you need to get in the playoffs and play a series against them, and then it starts becoming a rivalry.” -John Tortorella
The Penguins are desperately trying to keep open their window of Stanley Cup contention during the careers of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang. However, their hopes are fading fast.
The Flyers, while optimistic about a 14-10-2 start, don’t expect to contend anytime soon. Give the Flyers credit for their success. Don’t overreact to one minimal page that is part of a brutal chapter in the rivalry’s history for Philadelphia.
The Wells Fargo Center goes wild as Sean Couturier walks it off to sweep the home-and-home against the Penguins #LetsGoFlyers pic.twitter.com/nVYk6ZDpQW
— 97.5 The Fanatic (@975TheFanatic) December 5, 2023
Eric Lindros on Modern NHL
The Flyers reached three Eastern Conference Finals and one Stanley Cup with Eric Lindros as their top-line center. However, serious concussion issues kept the Hall of Famer off the ice for long stretches. Issues snowballed and ultimately caused his tenure in Philadelphia to spiral out of control.
Despite his injury history and work to increase concussion awareness, Lindros spoke on The John Kincade Show about how the modern game could use more physicality.
“For a great sport, you need to have a bit of hate. You really do. I’m not sure that during the regular season, teams despise other teams. (When) you get into the playoffs, body contact is a big issue, what little is left of it anyway… The teams that are used to playing that physical style all the way through the course of 82 regular-season games, I believe have a much better chance of success because it’s not a light switch you can turn on. They’re built for it.” -Eric Lindros
Lindros was a fearless power forward when he wore the #88 sweater for the Flyers, but he acknowledges how rule changes have dictated the evolution of the NHL.
Brian Boucher on Tortorella, Hart
Flyers color commentator Brian Boucher also joined The John Kincade Show to discuss Philadelphia’s success early in the season. He gave credit to the approach of their second-year head coach John Tortorella.
“His ideas are black and white. There is no gray area. There is no negotiating. Either you do it, or you don’t. If you don’t do it, you’re out. To me, I think as a player, that’s the best coach to have because you don’t want to have a situation where you’re not sure where you stand… He’s going to tell you straight to your face what he expects, and if you don’t do it, you won’t play.” -Brian Boucher
Boucher, who stood between the pipes for 13 NHL seasons, spoke highly of Carter Hart for his development into a number one goaltender throughout his early 20s.
“This is a really talented netminder that has all the tools to be a top-flight NHLer. I think the one thing that just stands out right now is that things have to align where the team is in a position to win. I think he’s the type of goalie that can help you do it.” -Boucher
Looking Ahead
The Flyers will finish up their three-game Western Conference road swing before returning to the Wells Fargo Center on Thursday night.
- Saturday 12/8: @ Colorado Avalanche, 9pm on 97.5 The Fanatic
- Tuesday 12/10: @ Nashville Predators, 9pm on 97.5 The Fanatic
- Thursday 12/14: vs. Washington Capitals, 7pm on 97.5 The Fanatic
- Saturday 12/16: vs. Detroit Red Wings, 7pm on 93.3 WMMR
Listen to 97.5 The Fanatic, the flagship radio partner of the Philadelphia Flyers.
6 Philadelphia Flyers Retired Numbers & 1 More That Deserves It
Bernie Parent #1
“Only the Lord saves more than Bernie Parent.”
Countless drivers in Philadelphia during the 1970s read the iconic bumper sticker about the future Hall of Fame goaltender. Parent accumulated Hall of Fame numbers over 13 NHL seasons, 10 of which included stints with the Flyers.
The real mark of his legacy came in the 1973-74 and 1974-75 seasons. He won the Vezina Trophy as the top goaltender in the NHL after both regular seasons. His 47 wins in 1973-74 stood as a league record until 2007.
Parent won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP for each of the only two Stanley Cups in franchise history after both of his Venzina seasons. The famed Broad Street Bullies built their reputation on intimidation and grit, but they never would’ve sniffed a Stanley Cup without Bernie Parent between the pipes.
Mark Howe #2
Mark Howe played six seasons in the WHA to begin his professional career and didn’t make his debut with the Flyers until age 27. However, he established himself as the indisputable best defenseman in franchise history.
He still holds franchise records for goals, assists, points, shorthanded goals, and plus/minus rating among defensemen. Most of the blueliners behind him in the major statistical categories played more games with the Flyers. Howe published a book cleverly named Gordie Howe’s Son in 2013.
Eric Lindros #88
The Flyers made arguably the biggest splash in NHL history when they acquired the rights to Eric Lindros in 1992 after some lengthy drama. He was supposed to be the next Wayne Gretzky, and his dynamic skill and intimidating power didn’t disappoint when he was on the ice. He won the Hart Trophy after the shortened 1994-95 season and helped the Flyers to an appearance in the 1997 Stanley Cup Final.
Concussions derailed the career of arguably the most talented hockey player ever to lace up the skates. He struggled to stay healthy in a stretch that infamously ended with a devastating hit from Scott Stevens in the 2000 Eastern Conference Final.
He ranks sixth in franchise history in scoring, but his 1.36 points per game average blows every other Flyers skater out of the water. The organization has properly moved on from disagreements with one of their all-time greats whose number has hung in the rafters of the Wells Fargo Center since 2018.
Claude Giroux #28
The Flyers were in Stanley Cup contention when Claude Giroux broke into the NHL. The crafty forward developed into the organizational centerpiece, but the team dragged through a forgettable era in franchise history during his captaincy.
Giroux is second in Flyers history in points, games played, and assists trailing only the legendary Bobby Clarke. He played on teams that won six total playoff series and recorded 73 postseason points, including an overtime goal in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final in 2010. He has finished fourth or higher in Hart Trophy voting three times during his tenure in Philadelphia.
The Flyers will someday retire the number of one of their all-time greats who unfortunately never broke through with a Stanley Cup.
