# 1996–97 Philadelphia Flyers season

The 1996–97 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Philadelphia Flyers 30th season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Flyers reached the Stanley Cup Finals but lost to the Detroit Red Wings in a four-game sweep.

## Regular season

While Eric Lindros rehabbed from a bothersome groin injury, the Flyers treaded water through the early part of the schedule. They dropped the first-ever home game at the new CoreStates Center to the Florida Panthers, 3–1, on October 5, and lost again to their new rivals three weeks later. However, they rebounded to end the Panthers' season-opening 8–0–4 run with a 3–2 victory in Miami on November 2.
With John LeClair, Mikael Renberg, Dale Hawerchuk and Rod Brind'Amour expected to pick up the slack on offense, the club was inconsistent and went 12–10–1 prior to Lindros' return in a 2–0 loss in Boston on November 26. Another loss the next night to the Islanders dropped the team into fourth place, but the team soon caught fire, ripping off a 14–0–3 stretch from November 30 to January 7.
The run included an incredible stretch of four consecutive shutout wins in mid-December (Hartford, Boston, Islanders, St. Louis), a trade which netted high-scoring defenseman Paul Coffey and a thrilling come-from-behind 4–4 tie against the Colorado Avalanche in Denver on January 4.
In a 9–5 win over Montreal on February 6, the Legion of Doom line set a franchise-record with 16 points and spoiled the NHL debut of Tomas Vokoun, and in a 5–5 tie on March 1 in Boston, third-line winger Trent Klatt recorded his first (and only) 20-goal season with a hat trick.
A 2–3–2 finish which saw Lindros sit out a one-game suspension and the Devils vault over the team for first place in the Atlantic was mitigated when LeClair scored his 50th goal of the season in a 5–4 win over New Jersey in the final regular-season game.

### Season standings

Atlantic Division :
| No. | CR | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | 1 | New Jersey Devils | 82 | 45 | 23 | 14 | 231 | 182 | 104 |
| 2 | 3 | Philadelphia Flyers | 82 | 45 | 24 | 13 | 274 | 217 | 103 |
| 3 | 4 | Florida Panthers | 82 | 35 | 28 | 19 | 221 | 201 | 89 |
| 4 | 5 | New York Rangers | 82 | 38 | 34 | 10 | 258 | 231 | 86 |
| 5 | 9 | Washington Capitals | 82 | 33 | 40 | 9 | 214 | 231 | 75 |
| 6 | 11 | Tampa Bay Lightning | 82 | 32 | 40 | 10 | 217 | 247 | 74 |
| 7 | 12 | New York Islanders | 82 | 29 | 41 | 12 | 240 | 250 | 70 |
Eastern Conference :
| R | | Div | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | New Jersey Devils | ATL | 82 | 45 | 23 | 14 | 231 | 182 | 104 |
| 2 | Buffalo Sabres | NE | 82 | 40 | 30 | 12 | 237 | 208 | 92 |
| 3 | Philadelphia Flyers | ATL | 82 | 45 | 24 | 13 | 274 | 217 | 103 |
| 4 | Florida Panthers | ATL | 82 | 35 | 28 | 19 | 221 | 201 | 89 |
| 5 | New York Rangers | ATL | 82 | 38 | 34 | 10 | 258 | 231 | 86 |
| 6 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NE | 82 | 38 | 36 | 8 | 285 | 280 | 84 |
| 7 | Ottawa Senators | NE | 82 | 31 | 36 | 15 | 226 | 234 | 77 |
| 8 | Montreal Canadiens | NE | 82 | 31 | 36 | 15 | 249 | 276 | 77 |
| 9 | Washington Capitals | ATL | 82 | 33 | 40 | 9 | 214 | 231 | 75 |
| 10 | Hartford Whalers | NE | 82 | 32 | 39 | 11 | 226 | 256 | 75 |
| 11 | Tampa Bay Lightning | ATL | 82 | 32 | 40 | 10 | 217 | 247 | 74 |
| 12 | New York Islanders | ATL | 82 | 29 | 41 | 12 | 240 | 250 | 70 |
| 13 | Boston Bruins | NE | 82 | 26 | 47 | 9 | 234 | 300 | 61 |
Divisions: ATL – Atlantic, NE – Northeast
bold – Qualified for playoffs

## Playoffs

Backstopped by the goaltending tandem of Ron Hextall and Garth Snow, the Flyers dominated the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Buffalo Sabres, and the New York Rangers all in five games apiece to win the Eastern Conference championship, and clinch a berth in the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1987. However, their opponent, the Detroit Red Wings, swept the Flyers in four straight games. After Game 3, Terry Murray said that the team was in a "choking situation." It is said this remark cost Murray his job, as he was fired less than a week after the conclusion of the finals.

## Schedule and results
### Regular season

1996–97 regular season :
October: 6–7–0, 12 points (home: 3–3–0; road: 3–4–0)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
1October 5Florida Panthers1–30–1–00Recap
2October 7New Jersey Devils3–11–1–02Recap
3October 10Los Angeles Kings5–4 OT2–1–04Recap
4October 12@ New York Islanders1–52–2–04Recap
5October 13Calgary Flames0–12–3–04Recap
6October 15@ Los Angeles Kings2–32–4–04Recap
7October 16@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim4–33–4–06Recap
8October 18@ Phoenix Coyotes3–14–4–08Recap
9October 22Mighty Ducks of Anaheim3–05–4–010Recap
10October 26@ Montreal Canadiens5–65–5–010Recap
11October 27Florida Panthers2–35–6–010Recap
12October 30@ Washington Capitals2–45–7–010Recap
13October 31@ Tampa Bay Lightning4–36–7–012Recap :
November: 7–5–1, 15 points (home: 2–3–1; road: 5–2–0)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
14November 2@ Florida Panthers3–27–7–014Recap
15November 4New York Islanders3–47–8–014Recap
16November 7@ Buffalo Sabres5–28–8–016Recap
17November 9Chicago Blackhawks1–48–9–016Recap
18November 10Toronto Maple Leafs3–19–9–018Recap
19November 13@ New York Rangers2–110–9–020Recap
20November 14Washington Capitals2–510–10–020Recap
21November 16San Jose Sharks2–2 OT10–10–121Recap
22November 21Pittsburgh Penguins7–311–10–123Recap
23November 23@ Tampa Bay Lightning2–112–10–125Recap
24November 26@ Boston Bruins0–212–11–125Recap
25November 27@ New York Islanders1–412–12–125Recap
26November 30@ Ottawa Senators4–313–12–127Recap :
December: 11–0–2, 24 points (home: 6–0–0; road: 5–0–2)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
27December 1Vancouver Canucks4–314–12–129Recap
28December 4@ New York Rangers1–1 OT14–12–230Recap
29December 6@ Dallas Stars6–315–12–232Recap
30December 10Florida Panthers5–416–12–234Recap
31December 12Hartford Whalers3–217–12–236Recap
32December 14@ Hartford Whalers4–018–12–238Recap
33December 15Boston Bruins6–019–12–240Recap
34December 19New York Islanders5–020–12–242Recap
35December 21St. Louis Blues4–021–12–244Recap
36December 22@ Chicago Blackhawks2–2 OT21–12–345Recap
37December 27@ Edmonton Oilers6–422–12–347Recap
38December 29@ Calgary Flames4–223–12–349Recap
39December 31@ Vancouver Canucks5–324–12–351Recap :
January: 5–2–4, 14 points (home: 3–2–2; road: 2–0–2)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
40January 2@ San Jose Sharks4–125–12–353Recap
41January 4@ Colorado Avalanche4–4 OT25–12–454Recap
42January 7Boston Bruins7–326–12–456Recap
43January 9Tampa Bay Lightning1–326–13–456Recap
44January 11Washington Capitals3–3 OT26–13–557Recap
45January 14Montreal Canadiens3–227–13–559Recap
46January 21Dallas Stars3–3 OT27–13–660Recap
47January 22@ Detroit Red Wings2–2 OT27–13–761Recap
48January 25Detroit Red Wings1–427–14–761Recap
49January 28Phoenix Coyotes4–128–14–763Recap
50January 29@ Washington Capitals2–129–14–765Recap :
February: 7–3–2, 16 points (home: 4–1–2; road: 3–2–0)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
51February 1New York Rangers2–429–15–765Recap
52February 4Buffalo Sabres1–1 OT29–15–866Recap
53February 6Montreal Canadiens9–530–15–868Recap
54February 8@ New Jersey Devils2–430–16–868Recap
55February 13Ottawa Senators4–231–16–870Recap
56February 15Pittsburgh Penguins5–132–16–872Recap
57February 16@ Pittsburgh Penguins6–233–16–874Recap
58February 19Hartford Whalers2–2 OT33–16–975Recap
59February 20@ Tampa Bay Lightning2–533–17–975Recap
60February 22@ Florida Panthers4–3 OT34–17–977Recap
61February 23New York Rangers2–135–17–979Recap
62February 26@ Ottawa Senators8–536–17–981Recap :
March: 7–5–2, 16 points (home: 3–2–0; road: 4–3–2)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
63March 1@ Boston Bruins5–5 OT36–17–1082Recap
64March 2@ Hartford Whalers5–237–17–1084Recap
65March 5New Jersey Devils1–337–18–1084Recap
66March 8@ Pittsburgh Penguins2–3 OT37–19–1084Recap
67March 9Washington Capitals5–038–19–1086Recap
68March 11@ Buffalo Sabres2–3 OT38–20–1086Recap
69March 13Edmonton Oilers5–4 OT39–20–1088Recap
70March 15Buffalo Sabres5–739–21–1088Recap
71March 19@ Toronto Maple Leafs6–340–21–1090Recap
72March 22@ New York Islanders3–3 OT40–21–1191Recap
73March 23Colorado Avalanche2–041–21–1193Recap
74March 25@ New Jersey Devils4–342–21–1195Recap
75March 29@ Washington Capitals5–343–21–1197Recap
76March 30@ St. Louis Blues2–343–22–1197Recap :
April: 2–2–2, 6 points (home: 2–1–1; road: 0–1–1)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
77April 1Tampa Bay Lightning1–1 OT43–22–1298Recap
78April 6Ottawa Senators2–144–22–12100Recap
79April 7@ New York Rangers2–344–23–12100Recap
80April 10New York Rangers3–644–24–12100Recap
81April 12@ Montreal Canadiens3–3 OT44–24–13101Recap
82April 13New Jersey Devils5–445–24–13103Recap :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point) :

### Playoffs

1997 Stanley Cup playoffs :
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins – Flyers win 4–1
GameDateOpponentScoreSeriesRecap
1April 17Pittsburgh Penguins5–1Flyers lead 1–0Recap
2April 19Pittsburgh Penguins3–2Flyers lead 2–0Recap
3April 21@ Pittsburgh Penguins5–3Flyers lead 3–0Recap
4April 23@ Pittsburgh Penguins1–4Flyers lead 3–1Recap
5April 26Pittsburgh Penguins6–3Flyers win 4–1Recap :
Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. Buffalo Sabres – Flyers win 4–1
GameDateOpponentScoreSeriesRecap
1May 3@ Buffalo Sabres5–3Flyers lead 1–0Recap
2May 5@ Buffalo Sabres2–1Flyers lead 2–0Recap
3May 7Buffalo Sabres4–1Flyers lead 3–0Recap
4May 9Buffalo Sabres4–5 OTFlyers lead 3–1Recap
5May 11@ Buffalo Sabres6–3Flyers win 4–1Recap :
Eastern Conference Finals vs. New York Rangers – Flyers win 4–1
GameDateOpponentScoreSeriesRecap
1May 16New York Rangers3–1Flyers lead 1–0Recap
2May 18New York Rangers4–5Series tied 1–1Recap
3May 20@ New York Rangers6–3Flyers lead 2–1Recap
4May 23@ New York Rangers3–2Flyers lead 3–1Recap
5May 25New York Rangers4–2Flyers win 4–1Recap :
Stanley Cup Finals vs. Detroit Red Wings – Red Wings win 4–0
GameDateOpponentScoreSeriesRecap
1May 31Detroit Red Wings2–4Red Wings lead 1–0Recap
2June 3Detroit Red Wings2–4Red Wings lead 2–0Recap
3June 5@ Detroit Red Wings1–6Red Wings lead 3–0Recap
4June 7@ Detroit Red Wings1–2Red Wings win 4–0Recap :
Legend:
  Win
  Loss :

## Player statistics
### Scoring

* Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing
* † = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.
* ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.
| No. | Player | Pos | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| No. | Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM |
| 10 | John LeClair | LW | 82 | 50 | 47 | 97 | 44 | 58 | 19 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 5 | 10 |
| 88 | Eric Lindros | C | 52 | 32 | 47 | 79 | 31 | 136 | 19 | 12 | 14 | 26 | 7 | 40 |
| 17 | Rod Brind'Amour | C | 82 | 27 | 32 | 59 | 2 | 41 | 19 | 13 | 8 | 21 | 9 | 10 |
| 19 | Mikael Renberg | RW | 77 | 22 | 37 | 59 | 36 | 65 | 18 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 1 | 4 |
| 37 | Eric Desjardins | D | 82 | 12 | 34 | 46 | 25 | 50 | 19 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 12 |
| 20 | Trent Klatt | RW | 76 | 24 | 21 | 45 | 9 | 20 | 19 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 12 |
| 44 | Janne Niinimaa | D | 77 | 4 | 40 | 44 | 12 | 58 | 19 | 1 | 12 | 13 | 3 | 16 |
| 18 | Dale Hawerchuk | C | 51 | 12 | 22 | 34 | 9 | 32 | 17 | 2 | 5 | 7 | −2 | 0 |
| 25 | Shjon Podein | LW | 82 | 14 | 18 | 32 | 7 | 41 | 19 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 16 |
| 29 | Joel Otto | C | 78 | 13 | 19 | 32 | 12 | 99 | 18 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 8 |
| 77 | Paul Coffey† | D | 37 | 6 | 20 | 26 | 11 | 20 | 17 | 1 | 8 | 9 | −3 | 6 |
| 6 | Chris Therien | D | 71 | 2 | 22 | 24 | 27 | 64 | 19 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 14 | 6 |
| 15 | Pat Falloon | RW | 52 | 11 | 12 | 23 | −8 | 10 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 4 | −1 | 2 |
| 9 | Dainius Zubrus | LW | 68 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 3 | 22 | 19 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 12 |
| 24 | Karl Dykhuis | D | 62 | 4 | 15 | 19 | 6 | 35 | 18 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 26 | John Druce | RW | 43 | 7 | 8 | 15 | −5 | 12 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 45 | Vaclav Prospal | C | 18 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 23 | Petr Svoboda | D | 67 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 10 | 94 | 16 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 16 |
| 32 | Daniel Lacroix | C | 74 | 7 | 1 | 8 | −1 | 163 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 22 |
| 22 | Scott Daniels | RW | 56 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 237 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 28 | Kjell Samuelsson | D | 34 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 17 | 47 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −3 | 2 |
| 11 | Craig Darby | C | 9 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 21 | Dan Kordic | LW | 75 | 1 | 4 | 5 | −1 | 210 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 22 |
| 5 | Kevin Haller‡ | D | 27 | 0 | 5 | 5 | −1 | 37 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 8 | Michel Petit† | D | 20 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 51 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 6 |
| 48 | Colin Forbes | LW | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | Jason Bowen | D | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 3 | Aris Brimanis | D | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 30 | Garth Snow | G | 35 | 0 | 1 | 1 | | 30 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 2 | | 11 |
| 38 | Paul Healey | RW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 27 | Ron Hextall | G | 55 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 43 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 2 | Frantisek Kucera† | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 5 | Darren Rumble | D | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |

### Goaltending

| No. | Player | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| No. | Player | GP | GS | W | L | T | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI | GP | GS | W | L | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI |
| 27 | Ron Hextall | 55 | 54 | 31 | 16 | 5 | 1285 | 132 | 2.56 | .897 | 5 | 3,094 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 203 | 22 | 2.97 | .892 | 0 | 444 |
| 30 | Garth Snow | 35 | 28 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 816 | 79 | 2.52 | .903 | 2 | 1,884 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 305 | 33 | 2.83 | .892 | 0 | 699 |

## Awards and records
### Awards

| Type | Award/honor | Recipient |
| League (annual) | Bud Ice Plus-Minus Award | John LeClair |
| League (annual) | NHL All-Rookie Team | Janne Niinimaa (Defense) |
| League (annual) | NHL second All-Star team | John LeClair (Left wing) |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Paul Coffey |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Dale Hawerchuk |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | John LeClair |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Eric Lindros |
| League (in-season) | NHL Player of the Week | John LeClair (November 11) |
| League (in-season) | NHL Player of the Week | Eric Lindros (December 16) |
| Team | Barry Ashbee Trophy | Eric Desjardins |
| Team | Bobby Clarke Trophy | John LeClair |
| Team | Class Guy Award | Shjon Podein |
| Team | Pelle Lindbergh Memorial Trophy | Trent Klatt |

### Records

Among the team records set during the 1996–97 season was goaltender Ron Hextall tying a team record with nine consecutive wins from December 6 to January 7. During Hextall’s streak the team set two shutout streaks, going a team record 265 minutes and eight seconds without allowing a goal from December 12 to December 22, and recording four consecutive shutouts from December 14 to December 21 (tied during the 1998–99 season). On January 29, Rod Brind'Amour tied Rick MacLeish's team record for consecutive games played at 287. Brind'Amour's streak continued another two seasons until a fractured left foot during training camp caused him to miss the first 34 games of the 1999–2000 season, ending the streak at 484 games.
The Legion of Doom line of Eric Lindros, John LeClair, and Mikael Renberg had two record setting games in February. On February 6 against the Montreal Canadiens, the line combined for a team record 16 points (LeClair 6 points, Lindros 5, and Renberg 5) with LeClair tying a team regular season record with four goals in the game. Three weeks later on February 26 against the Ottawa Senators, the line again recorded a combined 16 points (Lindros 7 points, Renberg 5, and LeClair 4) with Lindros setting the team records for assists in a single game (6) and a single period (4, later tied). Lindros also tied the team record for points in a single period (4). On March 19, Lindros tied the team regular season record for goals scored in a game (4) and tied the team record for goals in a period (3). Janne Niinimaa’s 40 assists on the season set a team record for rookie defensemen.
During game three of their conference quarterfinals series against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Flyers set a franchise single period playoff record for most shots on goal (28). During game three, Rod Brind’Amour tied the NHL records for most shorthanded goals scored in a playoff game and playoff period (2 for both). Likewise, the two total shorthanded goals scored by the Flyers is also tied for the franchise single playoff game and playoff period records. John LeClair’s three game-winning goals during the series is a franchise single series high. During game three of their conference semifinals series against the Buffalo Sabres, defenseman Paul Coffey recorded three assists during the first period, tying the franchise single playoff period mark. Brind’Amour repeated Coffey’s feat during the second period of game five. The Flyers five consecutive playoff wins on the road from May 3 to May 23 tied a team record.

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date |
| First game | Janne Niinimaa | October 5, 1996 |
| First game | Dainius Zubrus | October 5, 1996 |
| First game | Paul Healey | October 13, 1996 |
| First game | Vaclav Prospal | March 5, 1997 |
| First game | Colin Forbes | March 9, 1997 |
| 500th game played | Ron Hextall | November 21, 1996 |

## Transactions

The Flyers were involved in the following transactions from June 12, 1996, the day after the deciding game of the 1996 Stanley Cup Finals, through June 7, 1997, the day of the deciding game of the 1997 Stanley Cup Finals.

### Trades

| Date | Details | Details |
| July 26, 1996 (1996-07-26) | To Philadelphia Flyers Frank Bialowas | To Washington Capitals Future considerations |
| December 15, 1996 (1996-12-15) | To Philadelphia Flyers Paul Coffey3rd-round pick in 1997 | To Hartford Whalers Kevin Haller1st-round pick in 1997Hartford's 7th-round pick in 1997 |
| March 18, 1997 (1997-03-18) | To Philadelphia Flyers Frantisek Kucera | To Vancouver Canucks Conditional 7th-round pick in 1997 |

### Players acquired

| Date | Player | Former team | Term | Via |
| June 18, 1996 (1996-06-18) | Scott Daniels | Hartford Whalers | 3-year | Free agency |
| July 9, 1996 (1996-07-09) | Dominic Roussel | Winnipeg Jets | 2-year | Free agency |
| July 10, 1996 (1996-07-10) | John Stevens | Springfield Falcons (AHL) | | Free agency |
| July 15, 1996 (1996-07-15) | Daniel Lacroix | New York Rangers | 2-year | Free agency |
| July 17, 1996 (1996-07-17) | Peter White | Toronto Maple Leafs | | Free agency |
| July 23, 1996 (1996-07-23) | Steven King | Anaheim Mighty Ducks | 1-year | Free agency |
| October 1, 1996 (1996-10-01) | Brett Bruininks | University of Notre Dame (CCHA) | 1-year | Free agency |
| October 3, 1996 (1996-10-03) | Martin Boisvenue | Val-d'Or Foreurs (QMJHL) | multi-year | Free agency |
| January 17, 1997 (1997-01-17) | Michel Petit | Edmonton Oilers | | Waivers |
| May 28, 1997 (1997-05-28) | Andy Delmore | Fredericton Canadiens (AHL) | multi-year | Free agency |

### Players lost

| Date | Player | New team | Via |
| July 4, 1996 (1996-07-04) | Phil Crowe | Ottawa Senators | Free agency |
| July 9, 1996 (1996-07-09) | Shawn Antoski | Pittsburgh Penguins | Release (UFA) |
| July 9, 1996 (1996-07-09) | Dan Quinn | Pittsburgh Penguins | Release |
| July 24, 1996 (1996-07-24) | Todd Nelson | Grand Rapids Griffins (IHL) | Free agency |
| August 7, 1996 (1996-08-07) | Russ Romaniuk | Manitoba Moose (IHL) | Free agency |
| August 21, 1996 (1996-08-21) | Tim Cheveldae | Boston Bruins | Free agency |
| N/A | Jim Montgomery | Kolner Haie (DEL) | Free agency (UFA) |
| September 30, 1996 (1996-09-30) | Bob Corkum | Phoenix Coyotes | Waiver draft |
| September 30, 1996 (1996-09-30) | Rob DiMaio | San Jose Sharks | Waiver draft |
| October 12, 1996 (1996-10-12) | Kerry Huffman | Las Vegas Thunder (IHL) | Free agency (UFA) |

### Signings

| Date | Player | Term | Contract type |
| June 18, 1996 (1996-06-18) | Janne Niinimaa | 2-year | Entry-level |
| June 18, 1996 (1996-06-18) | Trent Klatt | 2-year | Re-signing |
| July 31, 1996 (1996-07-31) | Brian Wesenberg | 1-year | Entry-level |
| August 6, 1996 (1996-08-06) | Karl Dykhuis | 3-year | Re-signing |
| August 15, 1996 (1996-08-15) | Ron Hextall | 3-year | Re-signing |
| September 10, 1996 (1996-09-10) | Petr Svoboda | 4-year | Re-signing |
| October 3, 1996 (1996-10-03) | Dainius Zubrus | 3-year | Entry-level |
| October 10, 1996 (1996-10-10) | Brian Boucher | 3-year | Entry-level |

## Draft picks

Philadelphia's picks at the 1996 NHL entry draft, which was held at the Kiel Center in St. Louis, Missouri, on June 22, 1996. The Flyers traded their first-round pick, 24th overall, their fourth-round pick, 106th overall, and Martin Spanhel to the San Jose Sharks for Pat Falloon on September 20, 1995. They also traded their third-round pick, 78th overall, and their sixth-round pick, 157th overall, to the Colorado Avalanche for Garth Snow on July 12, 1995, and their ninth-round pick, 239th overall, to the Ottawa Senators for Kerry Huffman on March 19, 1996.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | Team (league) |
| 1 | 15 | Dainius Zubrus | Right wing | Lithuania | Caledon Canadians (MJAHL) |
| 3 | 64 | Chester Gallant | Right wing | Canada | Niagara Falls Thunder (OHL) |
| 5 | 124 | Per-Ragnar Bergkvist | Goaltender | Sweden | Leksands IF (Elitserien) |
| 5 | 133 | Jesse Boulerice | Right wing | United States | Detroit Whalers (OHL) |
| 7 | 187 | Roman Malov | Center | Russia | Avangard Omsk (RSL) |
| 8 | 213 | Jeff Milleker | Center | Canada | Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) |

## Farm teams

The Flyers were affiliated with the Philadelphia Phantoms of the AHL and the Mobile Mysticks of the ECHL.