J0e Th0rnton

When I look at Shorthanded numbers, between 72-80, I see Clarke with 25 SHG, Barber with 23 SHG, and MacLeish with 21. Their goals Against indicated Clarke was definitely their #1 Pker, but Macleish definitely got his time as well.

Someone else will need to correct fading memory, but I didn't remember him in the PK/checking role. He was a beautiful skater, particularly for that time, and had some real offensive ability, but I didn't remember him being in that particular role. Like FC said, everyone on the Flyers in that period was defensively responsible (yes, except for Leach).

I think there is something to what FC said, too. But it wasn't just that Clarke was responsible for keeping others off the score sheet. Usually the opponent's best line was out to defend against the LCB. That left MacLeish to play against second best.

But you would think that would be the case, maybe to a lesser degree, in the regular season as well, so I'm not sure how far that goes to explaining why Macleish's numbers went up while Clarke's went down. I do think it comes down to the competition each line was facing, though.

http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=13476

The Flyers opted to start MacLeish in the AHL in 1971-72 before recalling him late in the year. The next season he broke through with 50 goals while playing the power play and taking a regular shift with Gary Dornhoefer and Ross Lonsberry. Over the next two season he continued to produce on offense but was asked to take on penalty killing and defensive responsibility. MacLeish's excellence was a key component on the Flyers' consecutive Stanley Cup wins in 1974 and 1975. During the first title run he led all playoff goal scorers with 13 goals and 22 points. Overall, MacLeish was named to play in the 1976, 1977 and 1980 NHL all-star games.

During the late 70s, MacLeish was a top two-way player for Philly. In 1979-80 he scored 31 goals while teaming with Bob Kelly and Dennis Vervegaert. The trio helped the Flyers set an NHL record by going undefeated in 35 straight games and later reach the 1980 Stanley Cup final. In July 1981, the veteran pivot joined the youthful Hartford Whalers. During his last three NHL seasons MacLeish also played in Pittsburgh, did a second tour in Philly and dressed for the Detroit Red Wings before retiring in 1984.

http://broadstreetbullies.blogspot.ca/2008/05/rick-macleish.html

Rick MacLeish scored 328 goals in a Philadelphia Flyers history, many of them in clutch situations. He added 54 more goals in the playoffs, including 10 game winners. But he will always be remembered for just one tally.

MacLeish may have scored the most important goal in Flyers history. His game-winning goal in Game 6 of the 1974 Stanley Cup Finals against the Boston Bruins gave the Flyers a 1-0 win and their first championship.

Of course many of his goals were clutch goals. 51 of his goals were game winners, which at the time ranked him 2nd in Flyers history. Even today he remains ranked 4th all time.

And MacLeish carried his production into the post-season, too. He thrived on the pressure of the Stanley Cup playoffs. In both of the Flyers’ Stanley Cup championship seasons, MacLeish was the NHL’s leading point scorer, tallying 22 points in 1974 and 20 in 1975. He missed the 1976 Cup drive with torn knee ligaments. The Flyers returned to the Cup finals, but with several key injuries the Montreal Canadiens swept the Flyers in the Finals.

Wow, Joe. I think that's actually a pretty good question. I think outside Parent it was pretty much a team effort with no one player really standing out unless they happened to score a key goal (Dornhoefer, for example). Quite similar to this year's run by the Hawks but with more bloodshed.

In the 1974 playoffs, MacLeish had 13 G and 22 Pts, Clarke was 5-11-16. I guess I would give it to either one based on stats alone, but I guess I also give the nod to Clarke for everything else he brought.

1975 would again be those two players, in my opinion, with the nod going to Clarke again.

But the Conn Smythe clearly went to the right player.

For everything else Clarke brought, I always heard the same of MacLeish. I heard he stepped up his game in the postseason, and was always regarded as a tremendous defensive forward as well. Being the guy asked to PK and play a checking role.

I was just hoping for insight

Clarke's numbers may have dropped due to playoff hockey, but MacLeish's went up

Hahaha Sweet!

I am aware that Parent won both Conn Smythe trophies during their cup runs. Who would you have chosen as MVP of those 2 cups if you were to choose a skater?

Leach won A conn Smythe in a non-cup year due to his ridiculous 19 goals and 5 assists in 16 games. Other than that his playoffs seem a bit bare.

Bobby Clarke's numbers seemed to have a dropoff in the playoffs. I know he is one of the greatest defensive forwards ever. but why the point production dropoff?

Rick MacLeish intrigues me as his playoff numbers seem to be team best. He stepped up his numbers a lot for the playoffs and is generally regarded as a very good defensive forward as well. On paper he looks like a safe choice.

Thoughts?

I am also having some "All time top 5-10" threads in the "Around the NHL" forum. I was hoping some of you could join in

http://www.hockeyforums.net/index.php/forum/157-around-the-nhl/

I am going to be making a few "Alltime" threads in around the NHL and I hope some of you participate

Just kinda curious as to what people think around here.

I know the usual names that come up. Hasek, Roy, Brodeur, Plante, Sawchuk, Hall, Tretiak, Dryden, Parent etc and others

Ill throw my 2 cents in a post after, but if you were to rank them using all of the usual "Peak, Prime, and Career"

Peak being the year they were their absolute best

Prime being their string of years they were at the top

Career being their overall Body of work.

Including regular season AND playoff play

I don't play the Rangers enough to hate them

Lindsay Graham is a freaking meat head. But the whackadoodles that listen to this half wit will clamour right along with him.

There are very large differences between now and the boycott in 1980 (which was stupid, by the way) but this would be one of the more important:

In 1980, there were two blocs. If the US boycotted, so did most of NATO and other allies. How many countries do you think would really boycott the Olympics over Snowden? Over Syria? Really?

This is crap and Lindsay Graham knows it. If he doesn't, he's a bigger imbecile than I give him credit for. He's grandstanding for his retarded base and that's the beginning and end of it. He really needs to shut up or go talk about something he knows a damn about. Oh wait, that isn't exactly a choice. Both mean shut up.

Just lure the stupid senator into a crate with a banana and we can all go on as planned

I can tell quickly that this is the busiest section on this forum. I kinda want to get to know people here

Make sure Yall stick your heads out on occasion to the General chat area aye?

@J0e Th0rnton The Leafs never used Grabo properly. Whoever signs him to a one year deal will be lining up to resign him to a multi year deal the year after. Played a nice solid series against the Bruins also.

That's kinda why i want us to take a shot at him. We lost Clowe and we need a bit of Depth

Fair enough. I still don't believe the agent. I think there may be a team or maybe two, but they're probably talking in the range (or less if they're smart) you are and he's trying to raise the price/make him look more attractive than he actually is. ("Well, okay, go ahead and think about the apartment, but I have three couples looking at it tonight").

I do, however, think there is good betting odds that you'd hate him before a year was over if he signed in SJ. Then again, you like Joe Thornton so maybe you like floaters.

(C'mon, I had to)

I am soooo used to those comments from my friends

I don't believe a word his agent is saying, btw. I really think he's simply doing his best to drum up interest in a player no one is interested in.

I doubt nobody is interested in him.

The Sharks in Particular would not mind having a 25 goal, 60 point scorer provided he would take a 1 year contract as low as 2 Mill to prove he can hit that level again. I suspect a few teams would be thinking along those lines for the potential

http://www.torontosun.com/2013/07/06/several-teams-interested-in-grabovski-agent

I almost want the sharks to put a feeler offer out. Just a 1 year "let's see how you do" contract

I know we are heavy at center, but that is just how our coach likes it. Most of them can play win and that let's 3 lines cheat at faceoffs

We shall see!

The Sharks making no moves this offseason kind of worries me. Some tinkering must be done.

@flyercanuck I heard that same story this morning fc, if true, the kid let the money get to him, didn't have his priorities in place. I don't blame the Bruins for doing this if all the stories are true. Looking more and more like the Oilers got it right with the Taylor vs Tyler choice a few years back. Talent is great, but ya gotta have your priorities in line or your career will be short and mired with controversy. I get being young and everything, but playing hung over in the midst of a cup run, that's just a startling lack of control....looks like he has a real problem.

Gasp. All the same things said about Carter/Richards

Overall I would say both teams won this deal

From Bob McKenzie: "Silfverberg, Noesen and 1st to ANA for Bobby Ryan. Big deal for OTT."

Must admit, I know nothing about those players Anaheim got in return.