Philadelphia Flyers

About the Philadelphia Flyers

The Philadelphia Flyers joined the NHL in 1967 as part of the expansion that doubled the league from six teams to 12.

Philadelphia quickly developed an identity unlike any other team in the league. During the 1970s, the Flyers became famous for their aggressive and physical style of play. Combined with the team's home on Broad Street in South Philadelphia, that approach earned the championship-era Flyers the nickname “Broad Street Bullies.”

The Flyers became the first of the NHL's 1967 expansion teams to win the Stanley Cup and went on to establish themselves as one of the league's most successful expansion-era franchises.

Division History

When the Flyers entered the NHL in 1967, they were placed in the newly created West Division along with the other five expansion franchises.

League realignment in 1974 moved Philadelphia into the Patrick Division. The Flyers remained in the Patrick Division through several changes to the NHL's conference structure.

When the league introduced geographic conference and division names in 1993, Philadelphia became a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference.

Another NHL realignment in 2013 placed the Flyers in the Metropolitan Division, where they remain today.

The exception was the shortened 2020-21 season, when the NHL temporarily reorganized its divisions and Philadelphia competed in the East Division.

Championship History

The Flyers became the first post-1967 NHL expansion franchise to win the Stanley Cup when they defeated the Boston Bruins in six games in the 1974 Final.

Philadelphia successfully defended its championship the following season. The Flyers defeated the Buffalo Sabres in six games in the 1975 Stanley Cup Final to capture their second consecutive championship.

The Flyers returned to the Final in 1976 but lost to the Montreal Canadiens, ending a run of three consecutive appearances in the championship series. During the height of the Broad Street Bullies era, Philadelphia reached at least the Stanley Cup semifinals in six consecutive seasons from 1973 through 1978.

Philadelphia has reached the Stanley Cup Final eight times. In addition to the three consecutive appearances from 1974 through 1976, the Flyers reached the Final in 1980, 1985, 1987, 1997 and 2010.

The franchise's most recent Stanley Cup Final appearance came in 2010. Philadelphia overcame a 3-0 series deficit against the Boston Bruins in the second round before eventually advancing to face the Chicago Blackhawks, who defeated the Flyers in six games for the championship.

After several seasons outside the postseason, Philadelphia returned to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2026. The Flyers defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games in the opening round before losing to the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round.

The Flyers continue to seek their third Stanley Cup and first since 1975.

Home of the Flyers

The Flyers play their home games at Xfinity Mobile Arena in South Philadelphia.

The franchise originally played at the Spectrum, which opened in 1967 and became one of the NHL's most recognizable arenas during the Flyers' championship years. Philadelphia played at the Spectrum through the 1995-96 season.

The Flyers moved into a new arena next door in 1996. The building has carried several names during its history, including CoreStates Center, First Union Center, Wachovia Center and Wells Fargo Center.

It became Xfinity Mobile Arena in 2025.

The arena is part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, which also includes Lincoln Financial Field and Citizens Bank Park.

Notable Flyers

Bobby Clarke became the defining player and leader of the Flyers' championship era.

Clarke spent his entire 15-season NHL career with Philadelphia and remains the franchise's all-time leading scorer with 1,210 points. He recorded 358 goals and a franchise-record 852 assists in 1,144 regular-season games.

Clarke captained the Flyers to Stanley Cup championships in 1974 and 1975 and won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP three times. His No. 16 was retired by Philadelphia, and he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1987.

Bernie Parent provided the elite goaltending that helped turn the Broad Street Bullies into Stanley Cup champions.

Parent won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goaltender and the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in both 1974 and 1975, becoming a central figure in each of the Flyers' Stanley Cup championships.

He finished his Flyers career with 231 regular-season victories and remains the franchise leader with 50 shutouts. His No. 1 became the first number retired by the Flyers.

Bill Barber was another cornerstone of Philadelphia's championship teams.

Barber spent his entire 12-season NHL career with the Flyers and remains the franchise's all-time leader with 420 regular-season goals. He recorded 883 points and played on both Stanley Cup championship teams.

Barber's No. 7 was retired by the Flyers, and he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1990.

Ron Hextall became one of the defining Flyers of the 1980s and 1990s.

The goaltender won the Vezina Trophy during his rookie season in 1986-87 and helped Philadelphia reach the Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers. Although the Flyers lost the series in seven games, Hextall received the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

Hextall remains the Flyers' all-time leader among goaltenders with 240 regular-season wins and 489 games played.

Claude Giroux became the leading Flyers player of the early 21st century.

Giroux played 1,000 regular-season games for Philadelphia and recorded 291 goals, 609 assists and 900 points. He ranks second in franchise history in games played, assists and points behind Clarke.

Giroux also became the longest continuously serving captain in Flyers history and helped Philadelphia reach the 2010 Stanley Cup Final early in his career.

Other prominent players in Flyers history include Rick MacLeish, Reggie Leach, Mark Howe, Brian Propp, Tim Kerr, Eric Lindros, John LeClair, Mark Recchi and Simon Gagne.