In the 1994-95 season, the Flyers were starting to turn their luck around. After missing the playoffs for five straight years, they finally had the postseason in their sights. On the opposite side, the Montreal Canadiens were suffering through a miserable season, missing the playoffs for the first time in 25 years. Trying to do anything to save the sinking ship, the Canadiens traded stud defenseman Eric Desjardins along with John LeClair and Gilbert Dionne to Philadelphia for star forward Mark Recchi and a 1995 third round pick.
The Flyers acquired Recchi, Brian Benning, and a 1992 first round pick (Jason Bowen) from the Penguins on February 19, 1992 in exchange for Ken Wregget, Rick Tocchet, Kjell Samuelsson, and a 1993 third round pick (David Roche)
So, breaking down the four pieces the Flyers moved in that deal would look something like this:
KEN WREGGET-
Ed Van Impe was taken in the 1967 expansion draft from Chicago on June 6 1967.
Goaltender Bobby Taylor was signed as a free agent in September of 1967.
Van Impe and Taylor were traded to Pittsburgh on March 8, 1976 for Gary Inness and the Penguins 1977 8th (Pete Peeters), 9th (Tom Bauer), 10th (Rob Nicholson), 11th (Jim Trainer), and 12th (Mike Laycock) round picks.
Peeters early career was fantastic, going 29-5-5 during his rookie season in Philadelphia, however over the next two years those results could not be duplicated and he was later traded to Boston for Brad McCrimmon on June 9, 1982.
On August 26, 1987, the Flyers would trade McCrimmon to the Flames for a 1988 third round pick (Dominic Roussel) and a 1989 first round pick (Rob Pearson).
the Flyers would trade Calgary’s 1989 first round pick with their own 1989 first round pick (Steve Bancroft) to Toronto on 3/6/89 for goalie Ken Wregget.
RICK TOCCHET-
Tocchet was drafted 121st overall by Philadelphia in 1983.
KJELL SAMUELSSON-
Bob Froese was drafted by St. Louis 160th overall in 1978, though he would never play a game for them. Froese was later signed as a free agent by Philadelphia on June 18, 1981.
Froese was traded to the Rangers in exchange for Kjell Samuelsson and a 1989 2nd round pick (Patrik Juhlin) on December 18, 1986.
1993 THIRD ROUND PICK (DAVID ROCHE)-
The pick along with a 1994 fifth round pick (Frederic Deschenes) was traded to Winnipeg for goaltender Stephane Beauregard on the first day of October 1992. Less than a year later, Beauregard was traded back to Winnipeg on June 11, 1993 for the return of their 1993 third rounder and the 1994 fifth round picks.
After three successful years in Philadelphia, breaking the 100-point plateau twice, Recchi was traded to Montreal along with a 1995 third round pick (Martin Hohenberger) in exchange for Eric Desjardins, John LeClair and Gilbert Dionne.
Dionne would play all of 22 games in Philadelphia, but Desjardins and Leclair would go on to play huge roles for the Flyers throughout the 90’s. Desjardins played 738 games as a Flyer from 1995 to 2006.
By: Dan Esche (@DanTheFlyeraFan)
photo credit: northeasttimes.com
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