Favorite Flyers and Hawks

I got an interesting email yesterday from a reader:

"Who are your favorite players in Flyers history?"

That made for a fun trip down memory lane. Here's my top five favorite Flyers history, and just to make it even, Blackhawks history, too.

Philadelphia Flyers:

1. Bobby Clarke - He is easy to hate, but how can you not admire his desire and work ethic
2. Eric Lindros - Another player who was easy to hate. He may have been my favorite player in all of the 1990s.
3. Ron Hextall - I remember his battle-axe ways against those Edmonton Oilers in the epic 1987 Stanley Cup showdown. And who can forget his run-in with Chris Chelios?
4. Dave Poulin - He didn't have the offensive numbers of Clarke or today's Mike Richards, but like those two he was as complete a player that has ever played. Very underrated.
5. Mark Howe - I'm always a big fan of any player who can play both defense and forward at an all star level. There are very few players like that.

Chicago Blackhawks:

1. Al Rollins - I never saw him play, but I just love the stories about him. He won the Hart trophy as league MVP in 1954 despite the Hawks winning only 12 games!
2. Stan Mikita - Hockey's ultimate warrior. Very similar to Bobby Clarke, although I'd argue he was even better.
3. Bobby Hull - As charismatic as they come. A star all by himself.
4. Glenn Hall - They called him Mr. Goalie for a reason. 502 consecutive games without a mask but with the pre-game puke.
5. Terry Ruskowski - He's the dollar store version of Mikita or Clarke

I'll also give special mention to Big Behn Wilson, who played for both teams. He was big enough to handle Dustin Byfuglien even!