Bobby Clarke

Robert Earle "Bobby" Clarke ( * August 13, 1949 in Flin Flon, Manitoba ) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who played from 1969 to 1984 for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League. He was also from 1984 to 2006 General Manager of the Philadelphia Flyers, Florida Panthers and Minnesota North Stars.

  • 2.1 International

Career

As a player

As the son of a miner and a department store cashier Bobby grew up on the land, in the middle layer. His talent and his skills were no longer as a full NHL level. Since he was 15, he suffered from diabetes. Not least because of the NHL teams were skeptical and reluctant to NHL Amateur Draft in 1969. As the Flyers have had their turn again in the middle of the second round, the scout Gerry Melnyk roared the President Ed Snider on: " You have to take him ." Snider took with the 17th draft pick Bobby Clarke and struck the way to the Stanley Cup victory one. Clarke's heart and his willpower brought him as a player and the team in which he played in the top league. In 1972 he refused to be represented by an agent and agreed with a handshake a contract for $ 120,000. With the establishment of the WHA in the same year salaries rose significantly and Clarke had offers with whom he could earn twice as much can, but he was not about to break his word. Also this summer, it came to the 1972 Summit Series between Canada and the USSR. Walerie Kharlamov led the Canadians before and the coach John Ferguson said: " Someone has to stop him ." With a slashing Clarke Charlamows ankle broke and promoted him from the series. Later he said: " There is nothing of which I am particularly proud of, but I am also not ashamed ." In 1974 and 1975 he led the Philadelphia Flyers to two Stanley Cup victories. After the time of the " Original Six ," the Flyers were the first new team that won the Cup. In a survey to Clarke's active time the coaches thought he would be in the NHL, the best shorthanded player, best checker, the best the bully, the hardest worker and the best team leader, but above all was the player the coaches prefer in their team have.

In 1987 he was honored with induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

As a manager

Directly after end of his career in the summer of 1984, he was appointed General Manager and Vice - President of the Philadelphia Flyers appointed and remained until 1990. During this time the team reached the Stanley Cup Finals twice, but missed 1989/90 playoffs. In June 1990 he was engaged by the Minnesota North Stars and took there as well a the post of General Manager and Vice - President. Under his leadership, the North Stars reached the same in the 1990/91 season, the final of the Stanley Cup.

After two years in Minnesota, he returned as senior vice - president back in the organization of the Flyers, but left it again in the spring of 1993 to General Manager and Vice - President of the Florida Panthers to become. However, after only a year, he went back to the Philadelphia Flyers and again took over the post of General Manager and President.

Obtained in 1997 the Flyers under his direction for the third time, the Stanley Cup final, but were beaten again. In the following years had to put Clarke massive criticism due to the lack of great success, and personnel decisions. After retirement in the final in 1997 followed in the next five years, a total of six coaches layoffs. In addition, conflicts arose between him and team captain Eric Lindros, which culminated in a strike the player throughout the season 2000/ 01. In addition, the Flyers survived from 1998 to 2002 once the first round of the playoffs.

After leaving in the first round of the playoffs in the 2005/06 season, the criticism against Clarke was more violent. Although he had committed a good gain with Peter Forsberg in the summer of 2005, but the obligations of the physically strong but slow defender Mike Rathje and Derian Hatcher and their long -term obligations consisted of Clarke under pressure. After an unsuccessful start to the next season, he eventually resigned from his position as general manager back.

Bobby Clarke was particularly praised for his 19 - year tenure in Philadelphia that he has put together a team that included regularly among the favorites for the Stanley Cup and in the regular season 714 of 1356 matches won. However, the team was never able to achieve the great success in the playoffs and often fell short of expectations.

Internationally, Bobby Clarke was active as a general manager. 1984 and 1991 he served as one of four assistant coaches for the Canadian National Team at the Canada Cup in charge who could be won both times. In 1998, he was also General Manager of Team Canada at the Olympic Winter Games in Nagano. But even there he found himself exposed to criticism, as he preferred the lesser known Rob Zamuner the experienced Mark Messier and his 24 -year-old protege Eric Lindros appointed by the Flyers to the team captain and therefore veterans Wayne Gretzky, Steve Yzerman and Ray Bourque passed.

Internationally

Represented Canada at:

  • Summit Series 1972
  • Canada Cup 1976
  • World Cup 1982

Represented the National Hockey League at:

  • Challenge Cup 1979

( Key to Career statistics: Sp or GP = Games Played, T or G = goals scored, V or A = achieved assists; Pts or Pts = scored points scorer, SM or PIM = received penalty minutes, / - = Plus / Minus balance sheet; PP = scored majority gates; SH = scored shorthanded goals, GW = achieved victory gates; Play-downs/Relegation 1 )

Awards and achievements

Internationally

Pictures of Bobby Clarke

134718
de