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Are the Philadelphia Flyers Still Bullies?

by yak max

In the 1970s the Philadelphia Flyers earned the nickname “The Broad Street Bullies.” This was due to the fact the team played a hardnosed and tough style of hockey. Even top goal scorers like Bobby Clarke never thought twice about dropping the gloves for a fight.

After 40 years of having a reputation as a team of goons, are the Flyers still bullies?

Let us first take a look at where the Flyers as a team ranked in overall penalty minutes over the last five seasons.

2012-2013

Second Place – 755 Penalty Minutes (Lockout Shortened Season)

2011-2012

First Place – 1318 Penalty Minutes

2010-2011

Seventh Place – 1119 Penalty Minutes

2009-2010

Second Place – 1362 Penalty Minutes

2008-2009

First Place – 1432 Penalty Minutes

Based on this, the Flyers remain close to their antagonistic ways.

Let us take a look further into where these penalty minutes are coming from. This is where the Flyers rank in Fighting Majors in these same seasons.

2012-2013

Third Place – 33 Fights (Lockout Shortened Season)

2011-2012

Third Place – 57 Fights

2010-2011

Thirteenth Place – 47 Fights

2009-2010

Second Place – 77 Fights

2008-2009

Second Place – 74 Fights

From this we see the Flyers are a team who fights, but this is not why they are bullies. This is a team that consistently draws minor penalties more than anything else. A part of it could come from reputation. While the numbers and several players on the team can convince us that they are still bullies, the reputation as dirty players definitely has something to do with it.

The minor penalties the team has received are as follows:

2012-2013

First Place – 213 Minor Penalties (Lockout Shortened Season)

2011-2012

First Place – 382 Minor Penalties

2010-2011

Eighth Place – 347 Minor Penalties

2009-2010

First Place – 400 Minor Penalties

2008-2009

First Place – 406 Minor Penalties

We can safely say that the Flyers are indeed bullies. Who has led the team in penalty minutes in these recent years?

2012-2013

Zac Rinaldo – 85 Penalty Minutes (Lockout Shortened Season)

2011-2012

Zac Rinaldo – 232 Penalty Minutes

2010-2011

Scott Hartnell – 142 Penalty Minutes

2009-2010

Daniel Carcillo – 207 Penalty Minutes

2008-2009

Riley Cote – 174 Penalty Minutes

Whether the Flyers are bullies or not is probably up to the teams they play. What some people consider bullying others will call playing hard.

Sources:
ESPN

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