1968–69 Philadelphia Flyers season explained

League:	NHL
Season:	1968–69
Year:	1968
Team:	Philadelphia Flyers
Division:	West
Divisionrank:	3rd
Record:	20–35–21
Homerecord:	14–16–8
Roadrecord:	6–19–13
Goalsfor:	174 (12th)
Goalsagainst:	225 (7th)
Generalmanager:	Bud Poile
Coach:	Keith Allen
Altcaptain:	Dick Cherry Jean-Guy Gendron Allan Stanley Ed Van Impe
Arena:	Spectrum
Attendance:	11,196^[1]
Minorleague:	Quebec Aces Seattle Totems Jersey Devils
Goalsleader:	Andre Lacroix (24)
Assistsleader:	Jean-Guy Gendron (35)
Pointsleader:	Andre Lacroix (56)
Pimleader:	Forbes Kennedy (195)
Plusminusleader:	Bill Sutherland (+5)
Winsleader:	Bernie Parent (17)
Gaaleader:	Bernie Parent (2.70)

The 1968–69 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Philadelphia Flyers' second season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Flyers lost in the quarterfinals to the St. Louis Blues for the second consecutive season.

Off-season

The Flyers coaxed Dick Cherry, who they selected in the 1967 NHL expansion draft, out of retirement by agreeing to a three-year contract.^[2]

Lou Angotti, the Flyers first captain, was involved in a three-team trade.^[3] The Flyers traded Angotti to the St. Louis Blues for Darryl Edestrand and Gerry Melnyk and the Blues subsequently traded Angotti to the Pittsburgh Penguins.^[3] Melnyk suffered a heart attack in training camp and retired to become a scout for the team.^[4]

The Flyers claimed veteran defenseman Allan Stanley in the reverse draft from the Toronto Maple Leafs.^[5]

Regular season

Defenseman Ed Van Impe was named Angotti's replacement as captain in November.^[6]

Led by Van Impe and the team-leading 24 goals of Andre Lacroix, the Flyers struggled finishing 15 games under .500.

Record vs. opponents

Playoffs

Despite the poor regular season showing, they made the playoffs; however, they were manhandled by St. Louis in a four-game sweep. Not wanting his team to be physically outmatched again, owner Ed Snider instructed general manager Bud Poile to acquire bigger, tougher players going forward.^[7]

Schedule and results

Regular season

|- style="background:#fcc;"| 1 || October 13 || Philadelphia || 2–3 || Boston || Parent || 14,011 || 0–1–0 || 0 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 2 || October 16 || Philadelphia || 1–3 || New York || Favell || 15,906 || 0–2–0 || 0 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 3 || October 17 || Pittsburgh || 0–3 || Philadelphia || Parent || 9,862 || 1–2–0 || 2 || |- style="background:#ffc;"| 4 || October 24 || Minnesota || 3–3 || Philadelphia || Parent || 8,933 || 1–2–1 || 3 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 5 || October 26 || Philadelphia || 2–6 || Los Angeles || Favell || 6,597 || 1–3–1 || 3 || |- style="background:#ffc;"| 6 || October 27 || Philadelphia || 2–2 || Oakland || Favell || 1,892 || 1–3–2 || 4 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 7 || October 30 || Philadelphia || 1–4 || St. Louis || Parent || 10,754 || 1–4–2 || 4 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 8 || October 31 || New York || 2–1 || Philadelphia || Parent || 9,429 || 1–5–2 || 4 || |-|- style="background:#cfc;"| 9 || November 2 || Philadelphia || 3–2 || Toronto || Parent || 16,470 || 2–5–2 || 6 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 10 || November 3 || Montreal || 2–3 || Philadelphia || Parent || 12,431 || 3–5–2 || 8 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 11 || November 6 || Philadelphia || 1–7 || Boston || Parent || 13,744 || 3–6–2 || 8 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 12 || November 7 || St. Louis || 8–0 || Philadelphia || Favell || 9,164 || 3–7–2 || 8 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 13 || November 9 || Philadelphia || 3–0 || Pittsburgh || Favell || 7,284 || 4–7–2 || 10 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 14 || November 13 || Philadelphia || 3–4 || Minnesota || Favell || 10,918 || 4–8–2 || 10 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 15 || November 14 || Boston || 2–4 || Philadelphia || Parent || 10,192 || 5–8–2 || 12 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 16 || November 17 || Los Angeles || 1–3 || Philadelphia || Parent || 9,125 || 6–8–2 || 14 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 17 || November 21 || Montreal || 3–0 || Philadelphia || Parent || 11,269 || 6–9–2 || 14 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 18 || November 23 || Oakland || 2–1 || Philadelphia || Favell || 11,932 || 6–10–2 || 14 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 19 || November 24 || Los Angeles || 3–1 || Philadelphia || Parent || 9,086 || 6–11–2 || 14 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 20 || November 27 || Detroit || 5–2 || Philadelphia || Favell || 11,380 || 6–12–2 || 14 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 21 || November 30 || Philadelphia || 0–1 || St. Louis || Parent || 15,314 || 6–13–2 || 14 || |-|- style="background:#ffc;"| 22 || December 1 || Philadelphia || 3–3 || Detroit || Parent || 13,039 || 6–13–3 || 15 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 23 || December 4 || Philadelphia || 1–3 || Los Angeles || Parent || 5,847 || 6–14–3 || 15 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 24 || December 6 || Philadelphia || 0–4 || Oakland || Favell || 3,166 || 6–15–3 || 15 || |- style="background:#ffc;"| 25 || December 8 || St. Louis || 4–4 || Philadelphia || Parent || 10,329 || 6–15–4 || 16 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 26 || December 12 || Toronto || 1–0 || Philadelphia || Parent || 8,531 || 6–16–4 || 16 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 27 || December 14 || Philadelphia || 0–1 || Montreal || Parent || 16,584 || 6–17–4 || 16 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 28 || December 15 || Philadelphia || 3–1 || New York || Parent || 12,731 || 7–17–4 || 18 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 29 || December 17 || Pittsburgh || 2–8 || Philadelphia || Parent || 6,986 || 8–17–4 || 20 || |- style="background:#ffc;"| 30 || December 19 || Minnesota || 5–5 || Philadelphia || Parent || 8,394 || 8–17–5 || 21 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 31 || December 21 || Philadelphia || 2–1 || Los Angeles || Favell || 7,108 || 9–17–5 || 23 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 32 || December 22 || Philadelphia || 1–2 || Oakland || Favell || 1,829 || 9–18–5 || 23 || |- style="background:#ffc;"| 33 || December 25 || New York || 2–2 || Philadelphia || Favell || 9,545 || 9–18–6 || 24 || |- style="background:#ffc;"| 34 || December 27 || Philadelphia || 3–3 || Detroit || Parent || 11,935 || 9–18–7 || 25 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 35 || December 29 || Oakland || 2–1 || Philadelphia || Parent || 12,767 || 9–19–7 || 25 || |-|- style="background:#ffc;"| 36 || January 2 || Chicago || 2–2 || Philadelphia || Favell || 13,290 || 9–19–8 || 26 || |- style="background:#ffc;"| 37 || January 4 || Philadelphia || 1–1 || Pittsburgh || Favell || 6,329 || 9–19–9 || 27 || |- style="background:#ffc;"| 38 || January 5 || Toronto || 2–2 || Philadelphia || Parent || 11,274 || 9–19–10 || 28 || |- style="background:#ffc;"| 39 || January 8 || Philadelphia || 4–4 || Toronto || Favell || 16,331 || 9–19–11 || 29 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 40 || January 9 || New York || 3–1 || Philadelphia || Parent || 10,147 || 9–20–11 || 29 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 41 || January 11 || Philadelphia || 4–2 || Minnesota || Parent || 12,462 || 10–20–11 || 31 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 42 || January 15 || Philadelphia || 3–4 || St. Louis || Favell || 13,184 || 10–21–11 || 31 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 43 || January 16 || Montreal || 4–0 || Philadelphia || Parent || 12,728 || 10–22–11 || 31 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 44 || January 18 || Boston || 5–3 || Philadelphia || Favell || 14,558 || 10–23–11 || 31 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 45 || January 19 || Detroit || 1–3 || Philadelphia || Parent || 13,949 || 11–23–11 || 33 || |- style="background:#ffc;"| 46 || January 23 || Philadelphia || 2–2 || Chicago || Parent || 18,500 || 11–23–12 || 34 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 47 || January 25 || Philadelphia || 3–6 || Montreal || Parent || 16,884 || 11–24–12 || 34 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 48 || January 26 || Pittsburgh || 3–5 || Philadelphia || Favell || 10,987 || 12–24–12 || 36 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 49 || January 30 || Chicago || 12–0 || Philadelphia || Favell || 13,005 || 12–25–12 || 36 || |-|- style="background:#ffc;"| 50 || February 1 || Philadelphia || 2–2 || Pittsburgh || Parent || 5,866 || 12–25–13 || 37 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 51 || February 2 || Minnesota || 3–2 || Philadelphia || Parent || 13,294 || 12–26–13 || 37 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 52 || February 4 || Detroit || 2–0 || Philadelphia || Parent || 8,375 || 12–27–13 || 37 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 53 || February 8 || Philadelphia || 5–6 || Boston || Parent || 14,659 || 12–28–13 || 37 || |- style="background:#ffc;"| 54 || February 9 || Philadelphia || 3–3 || New York || Parent || 5,723 || 12–28–14 || 38 || |- style="background:#ffc;"| 55 || February 12 || Philadelphia || 3–3 || Chicago || Parent || 17,800 || 12–28–15 || 39 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 56 || February 13 || St. Louis || 2–1 || Philadelphia || Parent || 9,362 || 12–29–15 || 39 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 57 || February 15 || Chicago || 3–0 || Philadelphia || Parent || 14,558 || 12–30–15 || 39 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 58 || February 16 || Oakland || 2–3 || Philadelphia || Parent || 11,104 || 13–30–15 || 41 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 59 || February 19 || Philadelphia || 1–3 || St. Louis || Parent || 15,072 || 13–31–15 || 41 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 60 || February 22 || Philadelphia || 1–4 || Montreal || Parent || 17,304 || 13–32–15 || 41 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 61 || February 23 || Philadelphia || 1–9 || Detroit || Parent || 14,361 || 13–33–15 || 41 || |- style="background:#ffc;"| 62 || February 27 || Toronto || 1–1 || Philadelphia || Parent || 11,935 || 13–33–16 || 42 || |-|- style="background:#ffc;"| 63 || March 1 || Philadelphia || 2–2 || Los Angeles || Parent || 9,534 || 13–33–17 || 43 || |- style="background:#ffc;"| 64 || March 2 || Philadelphia || 4–4 || Oakland || Parent || 4,484 || 13–33–18 || 44 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 65 || March 6 || Los Angeles || 1–5 || Philadelphia || Parent || 9,428 || 14–33–18 || 46 || |- style="background:#ffc;"| 66 || March 8 || Philadelphia || 2–2 || Toronto || Parent || 16,485 || 14–33–19 || 47 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 67 || March 9 || Oakland || 3–5 || Philadelphia || Parent || 13,885 || 15–33–19 || 49 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 68 || March 13 || Boston || 1–2 || Philadelphia || Parent || 14,558 || 16–33–19 || 51 || |- style="background:#ffc;"| 69 || March 15 || Philadelphia || 2–2 || Minnesota || Parent || 14,662 || 16–33–20 || 52 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 70 || March 16 || Philadelphia || 2–6 || Chicago || Parent || 17,000 || 16–34–20 || 52 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 71 || March 20 || Minnesota || 2–5 || Philadelphia || Parent || 12,582 || 17–34–20 || 54 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 72 || March 22 || Philadelphia || 5–1 || Minnesota || Parent || 14,664 || 18–34–20 || 56 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 73 || March 23 || St. Louis || 3–4 || Philadelphia || Parent || 14,558 || 19–34–20 || 58 || |- style="background:#cfc;"| 74 || March 27 || Los Angeles || 2–4 || Philadelphia || Parent || 11,669 || 20–34–20 || 60 || |- style="background:#ffc;"| 75 || March 29 || Pittsburgh || 3–3 || Philadelphia || Parent || 11,039 || 20–34–21 || 61 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 76 || March 30 || Philadelphia || 1–2 || Pittsburgh || Favell || 5,738 || 20–35–21 || 61 || |-|-| Legend:

Playoffs

|- style="background:#fcc;"| 1 || April 2 || Philadelphia || 2–5 || St. Louis || || Parent || 15,156 || Blues lead 1–0 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 2 || April 3 || Philadelphia || 0–5 || St. Louis || || Favell || 15,261 || Blues lead 2–0 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 3 || April 5 || St. Louis || 3–0 || Philadelphia || || Parent || 14,558 || Blues lead 3–0 || |- style="background:#fcc;"| 4 || April 6 || St. Louis || 4–1 || Philadelphia || || Parent || 10,995 || Blues win 4–0 || |-|-| Legend:

Player statistics

Scoring

• Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing
• = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.
• = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.

	Player		scope=colgroup colspan=6	Regular season	scope=colgroup colspan=6	Playoffs
7		C	75	24	32	56	−12	4	4	0	0	0	−5	0
11		LW	74	20	35	55	−8	65	4	0	0	0	−5	6
21		RW	54	16	30	46	−7	14	4	0	0	0	−5	0
20		C	69	17	27	44	−5	20	3	0	0	0	−4	2
9		RW	65	14	21	35	−7	10	3	0	0	0	−2	0
12		RW	60	8	16	24	−20	80	4	0	1	1	0	20
10		LW	63	10	13	23	−11	23
2		D	68	7	12	19	−13	112	1	0	0	0	−1	17
17		D	67	3	16	19	−24	28	4	0	0	0	−8	10
6		D	64	4	13	17	−4	28	3	0	1	1	0	4
8		LW	48	7	9	16	−13	36	4	0	0	0	−4	2
5		D	71	9	6	15	−11	18	4	1	0	1	−2	4
22		C	59	8	7	15	−25	195
15		C	66	8	6	14	−20	49	4	1	1	2	0	16
14		RW	35	4	10	14	−10	8
4		D	66	1	13	14	−6	70	4	0	0	0	−5	0
10		LW	12	7	3	10	5	4	4	1	1	2	−4	0
3		D	60	2	8	10	−21	14	4	0	0	0	−5	0
19		LW	21	3	3	6	−4	51
19		RW	27	2	4	6	−14	52
23		LW	19	0	5	5	−11	25	1	0	0	0	0	0
24		D	24	0	4	4	4	6	4	0	0	0	−4	4
23		C	12	0	3	3	−1	4	4	0	0	0	−2	0
22		RW	5	0	2	2	−1	0	4	0	1	1	−2	0
14		LW	7	0	1	1	−4	22
19		C	1	0	0	0	0	2
1		G	21	0	0	0		4	1	0	0	0		0
16		LW	2	0	0	0	−2	0
30		G	58	0	0	0		8	3	0	0	0		0
24		D	9	0	0	0	−3	6

Goaltending

	Player	scope=colgroup colspan=11	Regular season	scope=colgroup colspan=10	Playoffs
30		58	56	17	23	16	2009	151	2.70	.925	1	3,357	3	3	0	3	94	12	4.01	.872	0	180
1		21	20	3	12	5	731	71	3.58	.903	1	1,191	1	1	0	1	36	5	5.00	.861	0	60

Awards and records

Awards

Type	Award/honor	Recipient	Ref
League (in-season)	NHL All-Star Game selection	Bernie Parent	^[8]
		Ed Van Impe

Records

See also: List of Philadelphia Flyers records.

Among the franchise records set during the 1968–69 season, the Flyers had two tie-related streaks. They tied four games in a row from January 2 to January 8, which was matched during the 1991–92 season, and they tied four road games in a row from March 1 to March 15.^[9] On January 30, they allowed 12 goals against to the Chicago Black Hawks, a single game franchise high.^[10] Their six road wins on the season is tied for the fewest in franchise history with the 1969–70 team.^[11]

Milestones

Milestone	Player	Date	Ref
First game	Larry Hale	October 13, 1968	^[12]
	Earl Heiskala
	Dick Sarrazin	November 27, 1968
	Serge Bernier	February 27, 1969

Transactions

The Flyers were involved in the following transactions from May 12, 1968, the day after the deciding game of the 1968 Stanley Cup Finals, through May 4, 1969, the day of the deciding game of the 1969 Stanley Cup Finals.^[13]

Trades

Date	Details		Ref
	To Philadelphia Flyers	To Seattle Totems (WHL)	^[14]
	To Philadelphia Flyers	To St. Louis Blues
	To Philadelphia Flyers	To Seattle Totems (WHL)	^[15]
	To Philadelphia Flyers	To Pittsburgh Penguins	^[16]
	To Philadelphia Flyers	To Vancouver Canucks (WHL)	^[17]
	To Philadelphia Flyers	To Quebec Aces (AHL)	^[18]
	To Philadelphia Flyers	To Chicago Black Hawks	^[19]
	To Philadelphia Flyers	To Vancouver Canucks (WHL)	^[20]
To Philadelphia Flyers	To Toronto Maple Leafs

Players acquired

Date	Player	Former team	Via	Ref
				^[21] ^[22] ^[23]
			Intra-league draft
			Reverse draft	^[24]
		Calgary Spurs (AJHL)	Free agency	^[25]
	Jean Lapointe	Laval Saints (QMJHL)	Free agency	^[26]
	Bill McEwan		Free agency
			Waivers	^[27]

Players lost

Date	Player	New team	Via	Ref
			Intra-league draft
		Minnesota North Stars	Intra-league draft
		Baltimore Clippers (AHL)	Reverse draft
		Denver Spurs (WHL)	Reverse draft
			Retirement
			Release	^[28]

Signings

Date	Player	Term	Ref
		3-year
		2-year
			^[29]
		1-year

Draft picks

See also: List of Philadelphia Flyers draft picks.

NHL amateur draft

Philadelphia's picks at the 1968 NHL amateur draft, which was held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, on June 13, 1968.^[30]

NHL special internal amateur draft

Philadelphia's picks at the 1968 NHL special internal amateur draft, which was held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec, on June 13, 1968.^[31] Sponsored players aged 20 before May 31, 1968, who played as amateurs during the 1967–68 season were eligible for selection.^{[32] [33]}

Farm teams

The Flyers were affiliated with the Quebec Aces of the AHL,^{[34] [35]} the Seattle Totems of the WHL,^[36] and the Jersey Devils of the EHL.^[36]

References

• Web site: Philadelphia Flyers 1968–69 roster and statistics . The Internet Hockey Database . February 10, 2022.
• Web site: 1968–69 Philadelphia Flyers Roster and Statistics . Sports Reference LLC . Hockey-Reference.com . February 10, 2022.
• Web site: Flyers History - Season Overview : 1968–69 . FlyersAlumni.net . Flyers History . February 10, 2022.

Notes and References

1. Web site: All Time Team Attendance. October 26, 2013. Flyers History. P. Anson.
2. News: Ends Retirement. . UPI. 10 . . May 28, 1968 . December 19, 2014.
3. Web site: Penguins Pick Up Angotti in 3-Team Trade . . . June 12, 1968 . December 19, 2014.
4. News: Sports Beat. C2 . Independent . . October 8, 1968 . December 19, 2014.
5. Web site: Quebec Drafts Allan Stanley from Toronto . . . . June 14, 1968 . December 19, 2014.
6. News: Ed Van Impe Named Captain of Flyers . . November 6, 1968 . 19 . . December 20, 2014 .
7. Web site: Philadelphia Flyers – History – Hall of Fame – Ed Snider. November 18, 2013. Philadelphia Flyers. https://web.archive.org/web/20070313212802/http://www.philadelphiaflyers.com/history/halloffame/snider.asp. March 13, 2007.
8. Web site: 22nd NHL All-Star Game . . August 6, 2015.
9. 2016–2017 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide, p. 259
10. 2016–2017 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide, p. 261
11. Web site: Philadelphia Flyers: Year-by-Year Record . records.nhl.com . September 12, 2022.
12. Web site: 1968-69 NHL Debuts . Hockey-Reference.com . October 3, 2024.
13. Web site: Hockey Transactions Search Results. Pro Sports Transactions. April 12, 2014.
14. Web site: Flyers Acquire Penalty King . . Associated Press. May 21, 1968 . December 19, 2014.
15. Web site: Flyers have their ace waiting in Quebec City . Newspapers.com . The Province . August 18, 2024 . 21 . June 14, 1968.
16. Web site: Flyers, Penguins in Lend-lease Player Agreement . . . August 22, 1968 . December 19, 2014.
17. , retrieved February 13, 2016
18. , retrieved February 13, 2016
19. Web site: Flyers Trade Bradley . Standard-Speaker . Associated Press. . December 3, 1968 . December 19, 2014.
20. Web site: Flyers, Leafs Swap . The Times Record . Associated Press. . March 3, 1969 . December 19, 2014.
21. Web site: 1968 NHL Intra-League Draft . Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia . Mark . Parsons . October 26, 2012 . July 28, 2015 .
22. News: 1968 NHL Intraleague Draft Picks at hockeydb.com . hockeyDB.com . December 23, 2013.
23. Web site: Montreal Loses Goalie in NHL Player Draft . . Associated Press. . June 13, 1968 . December 19, 2014.
24. Web site: 1968 Reverse Draft . Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia . Mark . Parsons . June 3, 2012 . July 28, 2015 .
25. , retrieved February 13, 2016
26. Web site: NHL Teams Flex Muscles, Howe in Form Again . . . . September 19, 1968 . December 19, 2014.
27. , retrieved February 13, 2016
28. Web site: Flyers Shift Two Players . . Associated Press. . December 19, 1968 . November 27, 2021.
29. Web site: Flyers Sign Players . . . . October 9, 1968 . December 19, 2014.
30. News: 1968 NHL Amateur Draft Picks at hockeydb.com . hockeyDB.com . November 12, 2013.
31. News: Lindsay among 10 western draftees . . 20 . . June 14, 1968 . December 23, 2014.
32. News: Kelly still in spotlight; minor draft overshadowed . . 18 . . June 8, 1967 . December 23, 2014.
33. , retrieved February 13, 2016
34. Web site: AHL Franchise Statistics. October 26, 2013. Flyers History. P. Anson.
35. Web site: AHL Season Overview: 1968–69. October 26, 2013. Flyers History. P. Anson.
36. Web site: Non-AHL Affiliates. October 26, 2013. Flyers History. P. Anson.