Does Schultz belong in Flyers' Hall of Fame?
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Does Schultz belong in Flyers' Hall of Fame?
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Dave Schultz, who epitomized the Broad Street Bullies' era in the mid 1970s, will be inducted into the Flyers’ Hall of Fame before Monday’s game against New Jersey at the Wachovia Center.
Is the honor justified?
That was the hot debate in the press box the other day, and the answers were mixed.
Based on his numbers alone, Schultz clearly does not deserve to be in the team's Hall of Fame. He only played four full seasons with the Flyers and averaged about 13 goals per year.
Schultz, a brawling left winger, led the league in penalty minutes during three of those seasons _ and he still holds the NHL record for time in the box in one year (472 minutes in 1974-75).
He even cut a record (remember 45s?) to memorialize his time in the penalty box.
So, based on his numbers, Schultz is an undeserving HOF member.
But here’s why he belongs: He helped give the Flyers an identity that was loved in Philadelphia and loathed around North America.
Whether or not you liked his style, he helped put the Flyers on the map and made opponents fear coming to the Spectrum. Many a player mysteriously became ill _ the “Philadelphia flu” it was called _ because they didn’t want to go on the ice against Schultz and the Flyers.
Schultz also had a little talent; he scored 20 goals in one of his four seasons, and he netted the game-winner in overtime in the clinching game against the Atlanta Flames in the 1974 quarterfinals _ propelling the Flyers to their first Cup.
He was far from a great player. He was a character and a character guy _ and those guys are needed just as much as the Bobby Clarkes, Bernie Parents, Reggie Leaches, Bill Barbers and Rick MacLeishes.
You can argue that the Flyers would not have won any Cups if Schultz wasn’t on the club.
So, yes, I think he belongs in the team’s Hall of Fame. Let me know what you think.
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Notes. The Flyers shelled Martin Brodeur earlier this season, but the Devils' legend has recovered and will lead NJ into the Wachovia Center Monday, when it will try to to equal an NHL record by starting a season with 10 straight road wins.....Claude Giroux has seven assists but just one goal in 16 games; he had nine goals in 42 games as a rookie last season. Coach John Stevens will move Giroux back to center in Monday's game, with Darroll Powe and Arron Asham as his wingers. Giroux had been shifted to RW earlier in the season....James van Riemsdyk, the Flyers' impressive rookie, will return to the lineup Monday after missing the last game with the flu…..NHL general managers will form a committee that could take a stronger stance on head shots for next season. A hit Mike Richards delivered to the head of Florida’s David Booth last month seems to be the impetus for the committee, which will report its findings in March.
Sam, he absolutely belongs in the Hall of Fame, for all the reasons you mentioned. I remember reading a book about the Flyers in the Cup years and they talked about how Schultz was the enforcer, but oftentimes he was taking a key player for the other team off the ice with him- advantage Flyers. No questions, Schultz deserves to be in the Flyers HOF.— tcdzomba- Schultz was an impact player for his generation, just as Hextall was in the late 80's/90s. Hexy's in the Flyers HOF and never won a Cup. Schultz won two. He deserves it.— BlairW
- One does not have to be a prolific scorer to be valuable to the team. Dave Schultz was more to the Flyers of the the Cup years than anyone. He, Kelly, Saleski, Dupont and the so called "role players" were the reason the team won two Stanley Cups. He definitely should be enshrined in the HOF and remembered forever as a Flyer.— sugardoc54
The biggest goal in Flyers history was scored by Bobby Clarke in overtime in the second game of the Stanley Cup Fianls of 1974. Clarke scored on a rebound after a pass from Bill Flett. Flett got the puck after it was dug out of the left corner by none other than Dave Schultz. Without his effort on that play Clarke doesn't score. And then who wins the Stanley Cup? A couple of years before this the Flyers were regularly pushed all over the ice. That stopped when Dave Schultz arrived as the enforcer. Any Flyers fan from back then will remember what happened to Keith Magnuson of the Chicago Black Hawks - a team that regularly dominated the Flyers. Hockey is a game of skill but it also a game of intimidation - the winner is often not the most skilled team but the one that is willing to pay the price - digging the puck out of the corner or setting up in front of the goal. Dave Schultz made that price pretty high the team playing the Flyers. He couldn't have won a cup without Clarke, Parent, Barber, etc. But I doubt if they'd have won a cup without him. They were all there after Schultz was gone. How many cups did they win?- Shultz is there more for the image than his actual performance on ice. Since it's a Hall Of Fame, he belongs. Hall of Greatness, not so much. Ron Hextall is the franchise's all time leader in just about every goaltending category. He belongs in any kind of team hall.— JSaq
- Al, it is true that they never won a Cup after Schultz left. However, after Parent was hurt for most of the 1975-76 season, he was never the same goalie. I think that played a much larger role.— JSaq
- I was there when that style of Play was not only acceptable but necessary, every team had a bad guy to make sure nobody beat up on the stars, Dave did his job and we have two cups to prove it.— the bear
- The "Hammer" was the definition of Flyers hockey in the early and mid 70's,anyone who watched he Blues,Bruins,habs come to town and take shots at the flyers players at will,have no problem with what Dave brought.He was the consumate team mate,anyone who saw what happened to Barry Ashbee from a Dale Rolfe slapshot (not intended )had to feel alittle sorry for him ,because Schultz cam at him like a pit bull,love him or hate him evryone on the ice knew where he was.He definetly belongs with that magical group,as the "Fog" chalked it up "win today and we walk together forever"— friar75
- Absolutley the Hammer belongs in the Flyers Hall of Fame. I thought if they got around to inducting him, it would have been both Schultz and Bob Kelly. #8 was on Flyers for 4 full seasons, and went to the finals 3 of those years.— BobbyD
- Who's next...The Bird?— WDG99
- Who's next...The Bird?— WDG99
- Of course...Next question— wheezkid
- He doesn't belong. I spent a lot of time going to the Flyers games back then. He was a great player, one of my favorties, but not a hall of famer.— vroc
- Absolutely! Part of the franchise heritage! The Flyers Promotional department needs to get on the ball and take care of the players who made this franchise be respected, even through the bad times!— henrysr
- He also scored 20 goals in a season (twice I think) when scoring 20 goals meant something. All the prior posters are absolutely correct with their points as well.— dctwmt
