For the complete list and explanation of criteria and scoring, check out the Philly Fifty page
Longevity – 5
Propp played with the Flyers for his first 10 1/2 seasons from age 20 to 30. In 1990 he was traded mid-season to Boston for a 2nd round pick.
Peak – 2
Propp was never in the top-10 in the NHL for goals, assists or points. He had 3 seasons where he was top-10 in plus/minus.
Popularity – 3
You can buy his jersey at Mitchell and Ness, so that’s got to be something, right? I’ve never gotten the sense though that he was more or less popular than the standard good Flyers player.
Team Success – 4
The Flyers were 476-243-111 in his tenure and won 12 playoff series. They also reached the Stanley Cup Finals 3 times and lost all 3. As a side-note, Propp also lost the Stanley Cup with the Bruins and the Northstars. He never won a cup in 5 tries, tied for the most ever.
Awards – 3
Propp never won any of the major awards in his career, but did make the All-Star team 5 out of his 10 years with the team.
Stats – 4
As I said earlier, Propp was never in the top-10 in the league in anything scoring wise, but he was incredibly consistent at putting up above-average numbers. In his 10 full seasons with the team, he scored at least 25 goals each season, scored 30+ in eight, and 40+ in four. Points-wise he had over 75 eight years, and over 90 four years. Out of 840 possible games, he played in 790 (94%), an impressive number for any hockey player.
Now – because of his consistent above-average play, Propp is all over the Flyers career leaderboards. He is 2nd in career goals with 369, and 2nd in career assists with 480. He trails only HOFers Bobby Clarke and Bill Barber in career points (but above both in ppg). He is 4th in plus/minus, and impressively is 4th in ppg (1.07) behind Lindros, Forsberg and Tim Kerr. Bobby Clarke and Mark Recchi are the only other 2 Flyers who had more points than games during their career.
Historical Standing – 1
Propp is not in the HOF, and doesn’t figure to be.
Excitement – 3
Propp was a very solid hockey player, but not necessarily a flashy one. He does get points here for coming up big when it counted a lot though. His 55 career game-winning goals are a club record.
Total: 25
Another Flyers’ player I knew little about before this process – Propp seems like exactly the kind of guy you would want on your team in any sport. Someone who will play 95% of the games, be in the 75% percentile of players in the league, and play that way for over a decade. Consistent, consistent, consistent.
For the complete list and explanation of criteria and scoring, check out the Philly Fifty page
I don’t follow the Flyers much these days, but I was a pretty serious fan back when Propp played… and I honestly don’t think he is worthy of a top #50 mention. he is one of those guys whose cumulative stats look more impressive in hindsight, but really did not seem like much at the time. He was a solid player and reasonably popular. But IIRC he was not the same stature as Kerr, Howe, Barber, Lindberg or Hextall. Probably about the same profile as Tochett.
I just don’t see how you can be top 50 if you were not the 1 or 1a guy on your team.
I just don’t see how you can be top 50 if you were not the 1 or 1a guy on your team. >>
I doubt I’m saying anything that tk would disagree with, but maybe that should be changed to among the skill position players, you had to be 1 or 1a on your team. Otherwise, how would you make room for a Bob Brown, outstanding offensive lineman for the Eagles, who perhaps guided by a distant memory I recall being thought of very highly despite it being during the losing times. Seems like he was so good, I’d want to at least consider him as a candidate if the project were mine.
This list is bringing back memories. I started watching sports when his time with the Flyers was about done
Lobster of a left wing, public personality of a clam. Solid+ Flyer.