1974–75 Philadelphia Flyers season


The 1974–75 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Philadelphia Flyers eighth season in the National Hockey League. The Flyers repeated as Stanley Cup champions. The 1974–75 Flyers were the last Stanley Cup champion to be composed entirely of Canadian-born players.

Regular season

In 1974–75, Dave Schultz topped his mark from the previous season by setting an NHL record for penalty minutes. Bobby Clarke's efforts earned him his second Hart Trophy and Bernie Parent was the lone recipient of the Vezina Trophy. The Flyers as a team improved their record slightly with a mark of 51–18–11, the best record in the league.

Season standings

Playoffs

After a first-round bye, the Flyers easily swept the Toronto Maple Leafs and were presented with another New York-area team in the semifinals. The Flyers looked to be headed toward another sweep against the New York Islanders after winning the first three games. The Islanders, however, fought back by winning the next three games, setting up a deciding seventh game. The Flyers were finally able to shut the door on the Islanders, winning Game 7, 4–1.
Facing the Buffalo Sabres in the Stanley Cup Finals, the Flyers won the first two games at home. Game 3, played in Buffalo, would go down in hockey lore as "The Fog Game" due to an unusual May heat wave in Buffalo which forced parts of the game to be played in heavy fog, as Buffalo's arena lacked air conditioning. The Flyers lost Games 3 and 4, but won Game 5 at home in dominating fashion, 5–1. On the road for Game 6, Bob Kelly scored the decisive goal and Parent posted another shutout as the Flyers repeated as Stanley Cup champions. Parent also repeated as the playoff MVP, winning his second consecutive Conn Smythe Trophy.

Philadelphia Flyers 1975 Stanley Cup champions

Schedule and results

Regular season

Playoffs

Player statistics

Scoring

Awards and records

Awards

Records

Team

Milestones

Transactions

The Flyers were involved in the following transactions from May 20, 1974, the day after the deciding game of the 1974 Stanley Cup Finals, through May 27, 1975, the day of the deciding game of the 1975 Stanley Cup Finals.

Trades

Signings

Internal

The following players were either re-signed by the Flyers or, in the case of the team's selections in the NHL Entry Draft, signed to contracts.
DatePlayerTermRef
June 11, 1974Bob Sirois multi-year
June 20, 1974Norm Barnes multi-year
June 20, 1974Bill Barbermulti-year
June 20, 1974Tom Bladonmulti-year
June 20, 1974Reggie Leachmulti-year
June 20, 1974Don McLean multi-year
June 20, 1974Randy Osburnmulti-year
June 20, 1974Graham Parsonsmulti-year
August 27, 1974Steve Short multi-year

Drafts

Intra-League

The 1974 NHL Intra-League Draft was held on June 10, 1974. It cost $40,000 to make a claim.
DatePlayerTeamRef
June 10, 1974Dave Fortierto New York Islanders

Expansion

The 1974 NHL Expansion Draft was held on June 12, 1974. It featured two expansion teams, the Kansas City Scouts and Washington Capitals, selecting players from the 16 existing NHL teams. Each NHL team placed 15 skaters and 2 goaltenders on a protected list from which the two expansion teams could not select.
StatusPlayers
ProtectedBill Barber, Tom Bladon, Bobby Clarke, Bill Clement, Terry Crisp, Gary Dornhoefer, Andre Dupont, Bob Kelly, Orest Kindrachuk, Reggie Leach, Ross Lonsberry, Rick MacLeish, Bernie Parent, Don Saleski, Dave Schultz, Bobby Taylor, Ed Van Impe, Jimmy Watson, Joe Watson
SelectionsWashington Capitals selected Michel Belhumeur 4th overall
SelectionsKansas City Scouts selected Simon Nolet 5th overall
SelectionsWashington Capitals selected Bruce Cowick 18th overall
Selections-

Reverse

The 1974 NHL Reverse Draft was held on June 13, 1974. The Reverse Draft featured American Hockey League and Western Hockey League teams selecting unprotected players from NHL teams. It cost $15,000 to make a claim.
DatePlayerTeamRef
June 13, 1974Rene Droletto Tidewater Wings
June 13, 1974Graham Parsonsfrom Minnesota North Stars

Departures

The following players left the team via free agency, release, or retirement. Players who were under contract and left the team during the season are marked with an asterisk.
DatePlayerNew team ViaRef
June 4, 1974Barry Ashbee—Retirement

Draft picks

Philadelphia's picks at the 1974 NHL amateur draft, which was held via conference call at the NHL's office in Montreal, Quebec, on May 28, 1974. The Flyers first-round pick, 17th overall, was traded to the California Golden Seals along with Al MacAdam and Larry Wright for Reggie Leach on May 24, 1974.
RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityTeam
235Don McLeanDefenseCanadaSudbury Wolves
353Bob SiroisRight WingCanadaMontreal Red White and Blue
471Randy AndreachukCenterCanadaKamloops Chiefs
589Dennis SobchukCenterCanadaRegina Pats
6107Willie FriesenLeft WingCanadaSwift Current Broncos
7125Rejean LemelinGoaltenderCanadaSherbrooke Beavers
8142Steve ShortLeft WingUnited StatesMinnesota Junior Stars
9159Peter McKenzieDefenseCanadaSt. Francis Xavier University
10174Marcel LabrosseCenterCanadaShawinigan Dynamos
11189Scott JesseeRight WingUnited StatesMichigan Tech University
12201Richard GuayGoaltenderCanadaChicoutimi Saguenéens
13211Brad MorrowDefenseUnited StatesUniversity of Minnesota
14219Craig ArvidsonLeft WingUnited StatesUniversity of Minnesota Duluth

Farm teams

The Flyers were affiliated with the Richmond Robins of the AHL and the Philadelphia Firebirds of the NAHL. The Flyers and the expansion Washington Capitals had a joint affiliation agreement with Richmond and both teams sent players there. Richmond finished 2nd in their division and lost in seven games to the Hershey Bears in the first round of the playoffs. Playing in the Pennsylvania Convention Center, the first-year Firebirds finished 2nd in the league but lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Long Island Cougars.