Bob Kelly – Flyers/RW-LW (1971-80) Bob “the Hound” Kelly was a significant part of the Broad Street Bullies toughness. Kelly was not only one of the league’s most-feared enforcers, he, like teammate Dave Schultz, could also put the puck in the net. In his ten seasons in the orange and black, Kelly scored 14 or more goals five times and potted 22 in 1976-77. Kelly’s greatest moment was scoring the Stanley Cup-winning goal for the Flyers on May 27th, 1975 against the Buffalo Sabres in Buffalo. Kelly flew down the ice like a runaway train, and followed the puck around behind the net.  The 5’10” Kelly out-hustled and out-muscled the 6’3” Sabre defenseman Jerry “King Kong” Korab, and came from behind the net and slid the puck past Sabre goalie Gerry Desjardins 11 seconds into the 3^rd period of game 6.  The Flyers would win the game 2-0 and win their 2^nd Stanley Cup.

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Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson was born today May 26th, in 1941 in Maywood, Illinois. Johnson was the defensive coordinator for the Eagles from 1999-2008.  During his time with the Birds, the team went to 5 NFC Championship games. During the 1999 season, his first with the Eagles, his defense forced a league-high 46 turnovers, and had 5 pick sixes (team record). From 2000-2007 the Johnson-led Eagles defense amassed 342 sacks, tied for 1st in NFL. In 2001, Johnson’s defense became just the 4th team in NFL history to hold opponents to 21 points or less in every game of a complete 16-game season.

Jim Johnson sent Eagles to the Pro Bowl 26 times: Brian Dawkins (7), Troy Vincent (5), Jeremiah Trotter (4), Hugh Douglas (3), Lito Sheppard (2), Trent Cole, Michael Lewis, Asante Samuel, Corey Simon, Bobby Taylor (1).

Johnson groomed 3 assistants during his Eagles tenure that went on to be NFL Head Coaches – John Harbaugh, Ron Rivera, and Sean McDermott.

Jim Johnson was inducted into the Eagles Hall of Fame in 2011.  Johnson passed away on July 28th, 2009.  

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Eric Lindros – Flyers/C (1993-00) Simply put, Eric Lindros was a game changer. He redefined the role of the power forward. At his best, he was a dominating physical presence with a scorers touch. Lindros was the 4^th fastest in NHL history to score 300 points, 4^th fastest to score 400, 5^th fastest to score 500, and 6^th fastest to score 600 points. Lindros won the Hart Memorial Trophy and Lester B Pearson Award in 1995, and the Bobby Clarke Trophy four times. Lindros was a 7-time NHL All Star.  Lindros had concussion issues that eventually forced him to retire. Yes, the Flyers gave up a ton to get him (Peter Forsberg among others), and yes, it’s disappointing the Flyers couldn’t win a Cup with Lindros.  Yes, he had his issues with team management. Yes, our hearts were ripped out when Scott Stevens cruised the blueline and laid a vicious high hit on Lindros that left him crumpled on the ice. But for all the what-could-have-beens, it’s tough to argue he was one of the very best to ever wear the orange and black. Lindros was named one of the greatest 100 players in NHL history, was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2016, and had his Flyers’ #88 jersey retired in 2018.

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Pelle Lindbergh – Flyers/G (1982-86) Pelle Lindbergh is among the top three goalies in Flyers team history. A tragic fatal car accident in November of 1985, just months after leading the Flyers to the Stanley Cup Finals, ended what many believe could have been a Hall of Fame career.  Lindbergh was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team in 1983. In 1984-85 Lindbergh led the league with 40 wins, led the Flyers to the Stanley Cup Finals,  and became the first European goaltender to win the NHL’s Vezina Trophy for best goalie. Lindbergh was the first-ever recipient of the Bobby Clarke Trophy in 1985.  Lindbergh was selected to three All Star games, the third in 1986 was posthumously.  Beginning with the 1993-94 season the Flyers have annually awarded the Pelle Lindbergh Memorial Trophy to the team’s most improved player.

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