Ranking The Philadelphia Flyers’ Top 5 Enforcers

From the moment the Philadelphia Flyers entered the National Hockey League in 1967, they built a reputation of grit, intimidation, and an unapologetic brand of physical hockey. In the 1970s, they were known as the "Broad Street Bullies." The Flyers embraced the role of hockey's most feared team. To have this reputation relies on the enforcer. This player's role is to protect teammates, intimidate opponents, and shift momentum with a well-timed fight or a hard hit.

This toughness has spread across multiple Flyers rosters. Throughout history, they have produced some of the most iconic enforcers in NHL history. Let's take a look at the Flyers' top enforcers of all time.

Brown was drafted by the Flyers in 1982. He was a towering figure who was known for his fierce right hand. He was always ready to engage with any opponent and was one of the toughest players of his era. Brown had two stints with the Flyers and he stacked up 1,382 penalty minutes, in 552 games in the orange and black. His size made him a nightmare for opposing players and he was a crucial part of the Flyers identity.

His famous moment was during a 1987 pre-game playoff brawl. Brown joined in by skating out of the locker room, without a jersey just to get in on the action. Overall, he was a force of intimidation and set the tone for every game that he played in.

Tocchet was a gritty and highly skilled player. He was also one of the Flyers' most productive offensive weapons in the 1980s and early 1990s. Tocchet never backed down from a fight and his combination of scoring and physical play made him a solid power forward and a fan favorite. His statistics as a Flyer included 232 goals and 508 points in 621 games played. His ability to battle anyone made him a good enforcer. Tocchet is the Flyers' all-time leader in penalty minutes with 1,815, which shows his intensity and skill off.

Brashear was an imposing force in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He was one of the most feared enforcers in hockey because of his size, strength, and scary presence. Brashear was known for his left-handed, jackhammer-like punches, and the ability to control opponents in fights. He had a short time with the Flyers, but was consistently ranked among NHL leaders in penalty minutes, including his 212 minutes during the 2003-04 season.

His famous moment with the team was his involvement in a huge brawl against the Ottawa Senators in 2004. In the game, Brashear started a series of fights by challenging an opponent after every dirty hit. His game was built on a strong work ethic and an understanding that his role was providing a physical edge to keep things level.

Holmgren was a player who brought a tough and physical style of play to the Flyers. He was a key member of the post-Bullies Flyers and a right wing who stacked up goals and penalty minutes. His career-high of 30 goals and 65 points in the 1979-80 season showed that he was more than just an enforcer.

His 1,600 penalty minutes as a Flyer place him up there with the top enforcers in franchise history. Holmgren was also the first American-born player to score a hat trick in a Stanley Cup Final game. That moment showed that he is great at balancing offensive production with a physical edge.

Schultz was the original, and the greatest Flyers enforcer of all time. His nickname was "The Hammer" and he embodied the Broad Street Bullies era in Philadelphia hockey. He only spent five seasons with the Flyers, but still left a great impact. Schultz was more than just a fighter and was all about the team's aggressive identity.

He was a leader of the physical style of play. During the Flyers' back-to-back Stanley Cup titles run, he set an NHL record of 472 penalty minutes in the 1974-75 season. There's a good chance that the record may never be broken. Schultz played with toughness and had an intimidating presence. He stood up for his elite teammates and let other opponents know that they would pay a price for any bad checks.

The Flyers have featured some of the most fearsome enforcers in NHL history. The reputation of the "Broad Street Bullies" was built on the backs of players who were more than willing to drop the gloves and protect the team. Even if the role of the enforcer has gone away a bit, these players are still big hits for the franchise.