1969–70 Philadelphia Flyers season


The 1969–70 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Philadelphia Flyers' third season in the National Hockey League. The Flyers missed the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, setting a team record for fewest wins and an NHL record for most ties.

Off-season

On May 20, 1969, Keith Allen was named vice president and assistant general manager of the team and replaced as head coach by Vic Stasiuk. Stasiuk spent the previous two seasons as the head coach of the Quebec Aces, the Flyers American Hockey League affiliate.
The Flyers took a chance when they selected a 19-year-old diabetic from Flin Flon, Manitoba, named Bobby Clarke with their second draft pick, 17th overall, in the 1969 NHL Amateur Draft.

Regular season

By the time training camp came around it was clear that Clarke was the best player on the team, and he quickly became a fan favorite. His 15 goals and 31 assists earned him a trip to the NHL All-Star Game.
On December 11, 1969, the Flyers introduced what became one of the team's best-known traditions: playing a recording of Kate Smith singing God Bless America instead of The Star-Spangled Banner before important games. The perception was that the team was more successful on these occasions, so the tradition grew. The move was initially done by Flyers promotion director Lou Scheinfeld as a way to defray national tensions at the time of the Vietnam War: Scheinfeld noticed that people regularly left their seats and walk around during the anthem, but showed more respect and often sang along to "God Bless America". To this day, the team plays the song before major playoff games, currently with Lauren Hart performing the first part of the song, a recording of Smith singing the second part, and Lauren Hart joining the recording for the finale. As of the close of the 2013–14 Flyers season, the Flyers have a record of 96–28–4 when God Bless America is sung prior to home games.
General manager Bud Poile was fired on December 19. Keith Allen was named his replacement on December 22.
The team struggled in 1969–70 recording a franchise worst in wins. Even with such a bad output, the Flyers had a seven-point lead on the Oakland Seals with six games to play. However, the Flyers lost their last six games and Oakland made up the deficit. They lost the tiebreaker for the final playoff spot to Oakland, missing the playoffs for the first time.

Season standings

Schedule and results

Regular season

Player statistics

Scoring

Awards and records

Awards

Records

Team

Transactions

The Flyers were involved in the following transactions from May 5, 1969, the day after the deciding game of the 1969 Stanley Cup Finals, through May 10, 1970, the day of the deciding game of the 1970 Stanley Cup Finals.

Trades

Signings

Free agency

The following players were signed by the Flyers via free agency.
DatePlayerPrevious team TermRef
September 29, 1969Jim MairJohnstown Jets

Internal

The following players were either re-signed by the Flyers or, in the case of the team's selections in the NHL Amateur Draft, signed to contracts.
DatePlayerTermRef
July 24, 1969Andre Lacroix2-year
August 21, 1969Serge Bernier
August 21, 1969Gerry Meehan
October 1, 1969Bobby Clarke

Drafts

Inter-League

The 1969 NHL Inter-League Draft was held on June 10, 1969. The draft featured NHL teams selecting players from American Hockey League and Western Hockey League teams. It cost $15,000 to make a claim.
DatePlayerTeamRef
June 10, 1969Bob Barlowfrom Vancouver Canucks

Intra-League

The 1969 NHL Intra-League Draft was held on June 11, 1969. Each NHL team placed 14 skaters and 2 goaltenders on a protected list from which the other teams could not select. It cost $30,000 to make a claim. The Flyers protected the following players: goaltenders Doug Favell and Bernie Parent, and skaters Serge Bernier, Mike Byers, Reg Fleming, Jean-Guy Gendron, Wayne Hillman, Jim Johnson, Andre Lacroix, Ralph MacSweyn, Gerry Meehan, Rosaire Paiement, Dick Sarrazin, Bill Sutherland, Ed Van Impe, and Joe Watson.
DatePlayerTeamRef
June 11, 1969Larry Hillmanfrom Montreal Canadiens
June 11, 1969Jean-Guy Gendronto Montreal Canadiens

Reverse

The 1969 NHL Reverse Draft was held on June 12, 1969. 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 12, 1969Rene Droletto Quebec Aces
June 12, 1969Jean Lapointeto Hershey Bears
June 12, 1969Bob Sneddonto Springfield Kings
June 12, 1969Roger Pelletierto Quebec Aces

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
N/AMyron Stankiewicz—Retirement
N/ALarry Zeidel—Retirement
September 24, 1969Allan Stanley—Retirement

Draft picks

Philadelphia's picks at the 1969 NHL Amateur Draft, which was held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec, on June 11, 1969. During the draft, the Flyers traded their seventh-round pick, 75th overall, to the Montreal Canadiens in order to re-acquire Jean-Guy Gendron, who Montreal had selected from the Flyers earlier in the day during the Inter-League Draft.
RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityTeam
16Bob CurrierCenterCanadaCornwall Royals
217Bobby ClarkeCenterCanadaFlin Flon Bombers
328Willie BrossartDefenseCanadaEstevan Bruins
440Michel BelhumeurGoaltenderCanadaDrummondville Rangers
552Dave SchultzLeft WingCanadaSorel Eperviers
664Don SaleskiRight WingCanadaRegina Pats
881Claude ChartreCenterCanadaDrummondville Rangers

Farm teams

The Flyers were affiliated with the Quebec Aces of the AHL, the Flint Generals of the IHL, and the Jersey Devils of the EHL.