For the complete list and explanation of criteria and scoring, check out the Philly Fifty page
Longevity – 5
MacLeish played parts of 12 seasons with the Flyers, from 1970-1981 and then a brief return in 1984. All told, he played in 741 games for the orange and black, tied for 6th most in team history.
Peak – 3
MacLeish was top-5 in the NHL in goals and points twice (’72-’73 and ’76-’77). In ’72-’73, his first full year, he had 50 goals and 100 points, one of only 3 Flyers’ players to do that (Barber, Recchi).
Popularity – 3
Being part of a multi-championship squad will make you a popular fellow – but he is not really at the level of Clarke, Barber or Parent.
Team Success – 5
The Broad Street Bullies are one of only 2 teams to get a “5″ rating here. In MacLeish’s time with the team, the Flyers’ won 2 titles, 4 conference titles, 17 playoff series and had a regular season record of 465-245-162. That would be an average of 44-23-15 per season, or 103 points for an 82 game season.
Awards – 2
MacLeish was probably never the best player on his own team, so Awards weren’t really in the cards. He was elected to 3 all-star games.
Stats – 3
MacLeish is 4th all-time in points for the Flyers. 6th in goals, 5th in assists. He is also 13th in +/-.
Historical Standing – 2
MacLeish is 160th all-time on the NHL points list. His key part in a dominating squad in two championships might have gotten him some thought for a HOF nod, but it wasn’t quite enough.
Excitement – 3
MacLeish was a very solid 2-way player, and led the team in goals and points during their first championship run in 1974. He also scored the most exciting goal in Flyers history, the game (and championship) winner in a Game 6 of the Cup Finals.
Total: 26
When thinking of someone to compare MacLeish to, Shane Victorino comes to mind. Not a personality thing, but rather Victorino has been a critical piece in the Phillies recent success, but history will probably remember folks like Rollins, Howard and Utley in a little higher regard. A lot of what got MacLeish on this list is the “5″ in team success. Without it, he probably doesn’t make it – and we know in this town (and most towns) winning is a heckuva lot more important than compiling stats.
For the complete list and explanation of criteria and scoring, check out the Philly Fifty page
Nice, unassuming guy – like many Canadians on skates. A GREAT Flyer. Standout natural talent; fluid skater. 15 hat tricks [Kerr 20, Lindros 12, Leclair 12, Leach 8, Barber 8, Clarke 5]; first expansion player and the youngest NHL-er ever at the time to score 50 goals; tied with Barber for all-time playoff goals (53), leads in playoff powerplay goals (21) and playoff game winning goals (11); superior wrist shot … swoop, snap, swoosh! May 19 ’74 Game 6 redirect goal past Bruin netminder Gilles Gilbert will live forever in hearts around here. His whipping the puck past all-world Ruskie goalie Vladimir Tretiak on a breakaway is also a fond memory. Skilled. Clutch. Handy with fists when provoked.
Despite torn knee ligaments, a serious car crash that put him in a body cast, a skate-gashed neck that required 80 stitches - all developments that limited the back half of his career output - he stands as the 4th all-time Flyer scorer with 697 points.
Noteworthy: Macleish was just the 8th player in NHL history to score 50, following ”Rocket” Richard, “Boom Boom” Geoffrion, “Golden Jet” Hull (5x), Johnny Bucyk, Phil Esposito (3x) and Mickey Redmond [no Gordie Howe]. Game has changed a lot since then; 50 meant more in ’72-’73.
#19′s low-key, quiet nature is a big reason he isn’t as exalted as Clarke, Barber, Parent. Was every bit as important to team’s climb and ultimate success. No Ricky, no Cups.
Correction: Vladislav, not Vladimir, but Vlad to his friends.
Led those back-to-back champs in points in both of those postseasons. Great player. MacLeish at 40 gets me really interested to see where the rest of the Flyers are going to land.
Especially Dave “The Hammer” Schultze, who really was the main reason this town fell in love with that team and whose enforcer mentality still defines the way current Flyer teams are built. Flyers brass still goes for the Nasty Pronger over the smooth Lidstrom-type (if flyers brass had a choice). Clarke never wanted Lindros to tone down that excessive physicality even though it would prematuraly end his career. Clarke, Barber and Parent were the substance, and The Hammer was the style. That team needed both to succeed. When I look back on those teams, Shultze is right up there with those other 3.