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Bobby Clarke

Born:August 13, 1949Draft:1969 Flyers, #17 overall
Hometown:Flin Flon, MBPosition:Center
Known For:Hall of FameShoots:Left
National Team:Canada

Robert Earle Clarke (born August 13, 1949) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played his entire 15-year National Hockey League (NHL) career with the Philadelphia Flyers and is currently an executive with the team. He was captain of the Flyers from 1973 to 1979, winning the Stanley Cup with them in both 1974 and 1975. He was again captain of the Flyers from 1982 to 1984 before retiring. A three-time Hart Trophy winner and 1987 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, Clarke was rated number 24 on The Hockey News’ list of The Top 100 NHL Players of All-Time in 1998. In 2017 Clarke was named one of the ‘100 Greatest NHL Players’ in history.

Clarke had three 100-point seasons, twice leading the league in assists, and was selected to play in nine NHL All-Star Games. He also won the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 1983, as the league’s best defensive forward.

Upon retiring at the end of the 1983–84 season with 358 goals and 852 assists for a total of 1,210 points in 1,144 career games, he immediately became general manager of the Flyers. He spent 19 of the following 23 seasons as a general manager of the Flyers, also briefly serving as general manager of the Minnesota North Stars and Florida Panthers, and reached the Stanley Cup Finals three times with the Flyers and once with Minnesota.

Bobby Clarke Philadelphia Flyers
Bobby Clarke of the Philadelphia Flyers on the ice during a home game, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1970s. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images)

Bobby Clarke Statistics

Deeper Dive

Awards

  • Three-time Hart Trophy winner (1973, 1975, 1976)
  • Bill Masterson Memorial Trophy in 1972
  • Ted Lindsay Award in 1973
  • Frank J. Selke Trophy in 1983
  • Played in eight All-Star Games (1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978)
Bobby Clarke, Philadelphia Flyers
Bobby Clarke’s million dollar smile

Sources