Philadelphia Flyers
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Jersey |
Manufacturer: Eagle
Material: Mesh
Year: 1984-1985
Away (Orange): Dave Poulin Size 50
Material: Mesh
Year: 1984-1985
Away (Orange): Dave Poulin Size 50
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Jersey History |
This jersey meets the trifecta of jersey collecting as it's game worn, an older model made by a short lived manufacturer, and has historical significance from the player and franchise. This'll definitely be the only jersey of this type I'll get as these are very expensive. The Flyers came into the NHL during the 1967 NHL Expansion. Their logo has been the same since their existence and the primary color of orange has been their staple for all but a couple seasons. This jersey style differed slightly from their inaugural jerseys, adding more black to the mix with the piping and bottom hem. This style would last until the Reebok Era where they would go back to mostly orange and white from their original jerseys. Eagle would only make these jerseys for a couple seasons as the NHL would start to look at league wide deals for making uniforms. Maybe so they didn't get another Cooperalls incident, or maybe because Eagle was a company owned by one of the Flyers trainers who would constantly take the Flyers gear to sell it out the back door. The mesh material would be used throughout the league in the early 80's, but was quickly replaced by Airknit and Ultrafil. This jersey was worn during the 1984-85 season where Poulin would take over captaincy from the legendary Bobbly Clarke while scoring 30 goals and 74 points in 73 games.
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Player History |
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Dave Poulin: Well hey I actually know this guy! Born in Timmins, ON, Poulin would have a very interesting journey to the NHL. He would actually take his teammate's recruitment letter for Notre Dame, as his teammate was going to Michigan State, and filled it out as himself. The letter was accepted and Poulin would pick Notre Dame over his other choices. Even though he excelled in college, his size turned off many NHL teams and Poulin would not be drafted. He would end up in Sweden in their third tier league with Rögle BK. The head coach, Ted Sator, of this team was also a scout for the Philadelphia Flyers though, and after 32 games Sator made a strong case for Poulin to join the Flyers. Poulin would join the AHL affiliated Maine Mariners for 16 games before being called up to the Flyers where he would make an immediate impact scoring 2 goals his first game. He would solidify his roster spot from then on and would take on a leadership role for the Flyers as Flyers legend Bobby Clarke would write a personal letter of recommendation for Poulin to take over captaincy after his retirement just before the 1984-85 season. Poulin would take the Flyers to the Stanley Cup Finals twice only to lose to the dynasty Oilers both times. Poulin would spend 8 seasons with the Flyers before being traded to the Boston Bruins for Ken Linsemen during the 1989-90 season. The injury bug would bite Poulin over his four years with the Bruins, but he would still manage to get to the Stanley Cup Finals again only to lose to...the Oilers...again! Poulin would sign as a free agent with the Washington Capitals for the 1993-94 season. As the injuries kept coming, Poulin would only play one more season with the Capitals before retiring in 1995.
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Nicknamed "The Broad Street Bullies" from their physical play style and taking over captaincy from their legend Bobby Clarke, Poulin had some big shoes to fill which he more than managed to with the Flyers. Poulin played 13 seasons (12 full plus the handful at the beginning) in the NHL playing in 724 games scoring 205 goals and 530 points. He was able to score 30+ goals twice and 20+ goals twice with a career high 76 points in his first full season. He did just as well in the postseason playing 129 games scoring 31 goals and 73 points. With his play style he was able to secure the Selke Trophy in 1987 and the King Clancy in 1993. He would also go on to play in two All-Star Games in 1986 and 1988. Poulin would also participate in the Rendez-vous '87 series where a team of NHL All-Stars would take on the Soviet Union for two games. The series was split with the NHL All-Stars winning the first game 4-3 thanks to a late 3rd period game winning goal by Poulin. The USSR would win the second with a score of 5-3.
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Even though the Rendez-vous '87 series was an international game, it wasn't technically considered an official international match as the NHL All-Star team had players from different countries. Poulin would not officially play internationally during his career. After his retirement, Poulin would go back to his roots and coach Notre Dame's hockey team for 10 years. During this time, he would be inducted into the Flyers Hall of Fame on February 23, 2004. He would step down after the 2004-05 season, with an overall record of 139-197-50 (W-L-T), to take on an athletic development role at Notre Dame to help build their new rink. Poulin would then get a call from his close friend Brian Burke to become the Toronto Maple Leafs VP of Hockey Operations in 2009 and eventually the GM of the AHL affiliate Toronto Marlies in 2013. His GM time would be cut short though as the Leafs would clean house in 2014 and Poulin would be let go. He would shortly after join TSN as a hockey analyst on radio and TV. He keeps this position today where you can catch him in studio for Senators and Canadiens games while also freelancing for the Toronto Star newspaper.