# 1973–74 Philadelphia Flyers season

The 1973–74 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Flyers' seventh season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Flyers became the first expansion team to win the Stanley Cup. Prior to this season, no post-1967 expansion team had either beaten an Original Six team in a playoff round or won a Stanley Cup Finals game.
Goaltender Bernie Parent, an "Original Flyer", returned to the franchise in the off-season, and the Flyers proved that the expansion teams could challenge the Original Six in 1973–74. The Bullies continued their rough-and-tumble ways, led by Dave Schultz's 348 penalty minutes, and reached the top of the West Division with a record of 50–16–12. The return of Parent proved to be of great benefit as he established himself as one of if not the best goaltender in the league by winning 47 games, a record which stood for 33 years. Since the Flyers, along with Chicago, allowed the fewest goals in the league, Parent also shared the Vezina Trophy with Chicago's Tony Esposito.
Come playoff time, the Flyers swept the Atlanta Flames in four games in the first round. In the semifinals, the Flyers faced the New York Rangers. The series, which saw the home team win every game, went seven games. The Flyers had home-ice advantage as they advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals by winning Game 7. Their opponent, Bobby Orr and the Boston Bruins, took Game 1 in Boston, but Bobby Clarke scored an overtime goal in Game 2 to even the series. The Flyers won Games 3 and 4 at home to take a 3–1 series lead, but Boston won Game 5 to stave off elimination. That set the stage for Game 6 at the Spectrum. The Flyers picked up the lead early when Rick MacLeish scored a first-period goal. Late in the game, Orr hauled down Clarke on a breakaway, a penalty which assured the Flyers of victory. Time expired as the Flyers brought the Stanley Cup to Philadelphia for the first time. Parent, having shut out Boston in Game 6, won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Playoff MVP.

## Regular season

The 1973–74 season opened on October 11, 1973, against the Toronto Maple Leafs. This was the first time Kate Smith performed "God Bless America" in person at a Flyers' game. The Flyers started strong to begin the season winning their first four games and only allowing their opponents to score three goals total while they netted 18. The Flyers were 29–11–6 heading into the All Star Game, scoring 154 goals, while allowing 93. The Flyers were represented in the All Star Game by Bobby Clarke, Bernie Parent, Ed Van Impe and Joe Watson. The Flyers finished 1st in the Western Division, seven points ahead of the second place Chicago Black Hawks.
The team was led offensively by Bobby Clarke, who led the team in goals with 35, assists with 52 and points with 87. He finished fifth among scoring leader in points. Clarke was named a 2nd Team All Stars along with defenseman Barry Ashbee. Clarke was followed by Bill Barber in goals (34), and by Rick MacLeish both in assists (45) and in points (77).
In net, the Flyers were led by goaltender Bernie Parent, who went 47–13–12, posted a 1.89 goals against average (136 goals against on 2038 shots) and 12 shutouts. Parent's 47 wins was a record until Martin Brodeur won 48 games in the 2006–07 NHL season. It remains the record for most regulation wins by a goaltender in a single season as several of Brodeur's wins came in overtime and the shootout, neither of which existed in the 1970s. Parent was a co-winner of the Vezina Trophy, which was awarded at the time to any goaltenders who played 25 or more games for the team allowing the fewest goals against, with Black Hawks' goaltender Tony Esposito.

### Season standings

West Division vte :
| | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | DIFF | Pts |
| 1 | Philadelphia Flyers | 78 | 50 | 16 | 12 | 273 | 164 | +109 | 112 |
| 2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 78 | 41 | 14 | 23 | 272 | 164 | +108 | 105 |
| 3 | Los Angeles Kings | 78 | 33 | 33 | 12 | 233 | 231 | +2 | 78 |
| 4 | Atlanta Flames | 78 | 30 | 34 | 14 | 214 | 238 | −24 | 74 |
| 5 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 78 | 28 | 41 | 9 | 242 | 273 | −31 | 65 |
| 6 | St. Louis Blues | 78 | 26 | 40 | 12 | 206 | 248 | −42 | 64 |
| 7 | Minnesota North Stars | 78 | 23 | 38 | 17 | 235 | 275 | −40 | 63 |
| 8 | California Golden Seals | 78 | 13 | 55 | 10 | 195 | 342 | −147 | 36 |

### Record vs. opponents
## Playoffs

The Flyers opened the post season against the 4th place Atlanta Flames. The Flyers swept the Atlanta Flames in four games with a combined score of 17–6. Rick MacLeish led the Flyers with four goals during the series. He scored a natural hat-trick in Game 2.
The Flyers headed into a grueling semifinals match up against the New York Rangers, who had won the regular season series 2–1–2. The series opened up in Philadelphia at the Spectrum with the Flyers shutting out the Rangers 4–0 in Game 1 and taking Game 2 5–2. The series switched back to New York and the Rangers would take Game 3 5–3 and Game 4 in overtime 2–1. The Flyers won Game 5 at home 4–1. With the Rangers on the verge of defeat in Game 6 the Rangers won 4–1. In Game 7 Gary Dornhoefer scored the game-winning goal with 10:59 left in the third. Rick MacLeish again led the Flyers in scoring in this series with seven goals. The home team was the winner of every game in the series.
This set up a Stanley Cup Finals matchup against the Boston Bruins, who won the season series 3–1–1. The series opened in Boston at the Boston Garden with Boston winning Game 1, 3–2 and the Flyers winning Game 2, 3–2 in overtime on a Bobby Clarke goal. The series moved to Philadelphia where the Flyers won Game 3, 4–1 and Game 4, 4–2. The series returned to Boston and Bruins won Game 5, 5–1. The series returned to Philadelphia for Game 6. Kate Smith performed "God Bless America" to a sell out crowd of 17,007 prior to the game. The Flyers won their first Stanley Cup on the lone goal of the game by Rick MacLeish in the first period. With seconds left on the Clock Gene Hart, the Flyers play-by-play announcer, made his famous call "Ladies and gentlemen, the Flyers are going to win the Stanley Cup. The Flyers win the Stanley Cup. The Flyers win the Stanley Cup. The Flyers have won the Stanley Cup!". Bernie Parent was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

## Schedule and results
### Regular season

1973–74 regular season :
October: 6–3–0 (home: 3–1–0; road: 3–2–0)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeDecisionAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
1October 11Toronto0–2PhiladelphiaParent17,0071–0–02Recap
2October 13Philadelphia6–0NY IslandersParent13,0572–0–04Recap
3October 14Detroit2–5PhiladelphiaParent17,0073–0–06Recap
4October 17Philadelphia5–1CaliforniaParent4,6794–0–08Recap
5October 19Philadelphia1–2VancouverParent15,5704–1–08Recap
6October 20Philadelphia0–3Los AngelesParent11,7344–2–08Recap
7October 25Montreal4–0PhiladelphiaParent17,0074–3–08Recap
8October 27Philadelphia6–0PittsburghParent11,2175–3–010Recap
9October 28California1–2PhiladelphiaParent17,0076–3–012Recap :
November: 7–3–2 (home: 3–2–1; road: 4–1–1)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeDecisionAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
10November 1Chicago0–1PhiladelphiaParent17,0077–3–014Recap
11November 3Atlanta2–1PhiladelphiaParent17,0077–4–014Recap
12November 4Pittsburgh0–7PhiladelphiaParent17,0078–4–016Recap
13November 7Philadelphia4–1DetroitParent12,5099–4–018Recap
14November 8Los Angeles3–2PhiladelphiaParent17,0079–5–018Recap
15November 11St. Louis3–4PhiladelphiaParent17,00710–5–020Recap
16November 14Philadelphia5–4Los AngelesParent10,04511–5–022Recap
17November 16Philadelphia2–1CaliforniaParent6,51112–5–024Recap
18November 17Philadelphia2–2VancouverParent15,57012–5–125Recap
19November 22Philadelphia2–4BostonTaylor15,00312–6–125Recap
20November 24Philadelphia1–0St. LouisParent19,27413–6–127Recap
21November 29NY Rangers2–2PhiladelphiaParent17,00713–6–228Recap :
December: 8–2–2 (home: 4–1–1; road: 4–1–1)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeDecisionAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
22December 1Philadelphia2–1NY IslandersParent14,86514–6–230Recap
23December 2California1–5PhiladelphiaParent17,00715–6–232Recap
24December 8Philadelphia3–1TorontoParent16,48516–6–234Recap
25December 9Boston3–3PhiladelphiaParent17,00716–6–335Recap
26December 12Philadelphia2–2ChicagoParent11,00016–6–436Recap
27December 15Atlanta3–2PhiladelphiaParent17,00716–7–436Recap
28December 16NY Islanders0–4PhiladelphiaParent17,00717–7–438Recap
29December 20Vancouver3–9PhiladelphiaParent17,00718–7–440Recap
30December 22Chicago2–4PhiladelphiaParent17,00719–7–442Recap
31December 26Philadelphia1–2NY RangersParent17,50019–8–442Recap
32December 29Philadelphia4–1St. LouisParent10,26520–8–444Recap
33December 30Philadelphia5–4BuffaloParent15,85821–8–446Recap :
January: 9–3–2 (home: 6–1–0; road: 3–2–2)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeDecisionAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
34January 3NY Rangers2–4PhiladelphiaParent17,00722–8–448Recap
35January 5Philadelphia3–3MinnesotaParent15,29622–8–549Recap
36January 7Philadelphia1–2MontrealParent19,04022–9–549Recap
37January 10Minnesota4–7PhiladelphiaParent17,00723–9–551Recap
38January 11Philadelphia7–6AtlantaTaylor5,14124–9–553Recap
39January 13Atlanta0–1PhiladelphiaParent17,00725–9–555Recap
40January 17Buffalo2–7PhiladelphiaParent17,00726–9–557Recap
41January 19Los Angeles0–2PhiladelphiaParent17,00727–9–559Recap
42January 20Pittsburgh5–3PhiladelphiaParent17,00727–10–559Recap
43January 22Philadelphia3–2VancouverTaylor15,57028–10–561Recap
44January 24Philadelphia4–4Los AngelesParent14,34328–10–662Recap
45January 25Philadelphia5–0CaliforniaParent10,77629–10–664Recap
46January 27Philadelphia3–5BostonTaylor15,00329–11–664Recap
47January 31Buffalo3–4PhiladelphiaParent17,00730–11–666Recap :
February: 5–3–4 (home: 3–0–2; road: 2–3–2)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeDecisionAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
48February 2Detroit2–12PhiladelphiaParent17,00731–11–668Recap
49February 3Philadelphia2–2AtlantaParent14,12331–11–769Recap
50February 7Pittsburgh4–5PhiladelphiaParent17,00732–11–771Recap
51February 9Philadelphia3–5BostonParent15,00332–12–771Recap
52February 10Montreal1–3PhiladelphiaParent17,00733–12–773Recap
53February 13Philadelphia3–1TorontoParent16,48534–12–775Recap
54February 14NY Rangers4–4PhiladelphiaParent17,00734–12–876Recap
55February 17Philadelphia2–2MontrealParent17,75734–12–977Recap
56February 20Philadelphia3–1DetroitParent15,12835–12–979Recap
57February 23Philadelphia1–3ChicagoParent16,66635–13–979Recap
58February 24Philadelphia2–3NY RangersParent17,50035–14–979Recap
59February 28Minnesota2–2PhiladelphiaParent17,00735–14–1080Recap :
March: 12–1–2 (home: 8–1–1; road: 4–0–1)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeDecisionAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
60March 2Buffalo2–4PhiladelphiaParent17,00736–14–1082Recap
61March 3Montreal0–6PhiladelphiaParent17,00737–14–1084Recap
62March 7Detroit1–6PhiladelphiaParent17,00738–14–1086Recap
63March 9Philadelphia2–1TorontoParent16,48539–14–1088Recap
64March 10Philadelphia4–3BuffaloParent15,85840–14–1090Recap
65March 12Philadelphia2–1NY IslandersParent14,86541–14–1092Recap
66March 14St. Louis2–4PhiladelphiaParent17,00742–14–1094Recap
67March 16Philadelphia4–2MinnesotaParent15,45043–14–1096Recap
68March 17Toronto2–2PhiladelphiaParent17,00743–14–1197Recap
69March 21Vancouver1–3PhiladelphiaParent17,00744–14–1199Recap
70March 23Chicago3–1PhiladelphiaParent17,00744–15–1199Recap
71March 24St. Louis1–4PhiladelphiaParent17,00745–15–11101Recap
72March 27Philadelphia6–2St. LouisParent18,44346–15–11103Recap
73March 28Philadelphia3–3AtlantaParent15,14146–15–12104Recap
74March 30Boston3–5PhiladelphiaParent17,00747–15–12106Recap :
April: 3–1–0 (home: 2–0–0; road: 1–1–0)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeDecisionAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
75April 2Philadelphia6–3MinnesotaTaylor15,11048–15–12108Recap
76April 4NY Islanders0–4PhiladelphiaParent17,00749–15–12110Recap
77April 6Philadelphia1–6PittsburghTaylor13,36849–16–12110Recap
78April 7Minnesota2–6PhiladelphiaParent17,00750–16–12112Recap :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point) :

### Playoffs

1974 Stanley Cup playoffs :
Quarterfinals vs. Atlanta Flames – Flyers win 4–0
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceSeriesRecap
1April 9Atlanta1–4PhiladelphiaParent17,007Flyers lead 1–0Recap
2April 11Atlanta1–5PhiladelphiaParent17,007Flyers lead 2–0Recap
3April 12Philadelphia4–1AtlantaParent15,141Flyers lead 3–0Recap
4April 14Philadelphia4–3AtlantaOTParent15,141Flyers win 4–0Recap :
Semifinals vs. New York Rangers – Flyers win 4–3
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceSeriesRecap
1April 20NY Rangers0–4PhiladelphiaParent17,007Flyers lead 1–0Recap
2April 23NY Rangers2–5PhiladelphiaParent17,007Flyers lead 2–0Recap
3April 25Philadelphia3–5NY RangersParent17,500Flyers lead 2–1Recap
4April 28Philadelphia1–2NY RangersOTParent17,500Series tied 2–2Recap
5April 30NY Rangers1–4PhiladelphiaParent17,007Flyers lead 3–2Recap
6May 2Philadelphia1–4NY RangersParent17,500Series tied 3–3Recap
7May 5NY Rangers3–4PhiladelphiaParent17,007Flyers win 4–3Recap :
Stanley Cup Finals vs. Boston Bruins – Flyers win 4–2
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceSeriesRecap
1May 7Philadelphia2–3BostonParent15,003Bruins lead 1–0Recap
2May 9Philadelphia3–2BostonOTParent15,003Series tied 1–1Recap
3May 12Boston1–4PhiladelphiaParent17,007Flyers lead 2–1Recap
4May 14Boston2–4PhiladelphiaParent17,007Flyers lead 3–1Recap
5May 16Philadelphia1–5BostonParent15,003Flyers lead 3–2Recap
6May 19Boston0–1PhiladelphiaParent17,007Flyers win 4–2Recap :
Legend:
  Win
  Loss :

## Player statistics
### Scoring

* Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left Wing; RW = Right Wing
| 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 |
| 16 | Bobby Clarke | C | 77 | 35 | 52 | 87 | 35 | 113 | 17 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 1 | 42 |
| 19 | Rick MacLeish | C | 78 | 32 | 45 | 77 | 21 | 42 | 17 | 13 | 9 | 22 | 0 | 20 |
| 7 | Bill Barber | LW | 75 | 34 | 35 | 69 | 34 | 54 | 17 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 18 |
| 18 | Ross Lonsberry | LW | 75 | 32 | 19 | 51 | 16 | 48 | 17 | 4 | 9 | 11 | 0 | 18 |
| 12 | Gary Dornhoefer | RW | 57 | 11 | 39 | 50 | 13 | 125 | 14 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 5 | 43 |
| 21 | Bill Flett | RW | 67 | 17 | 27 | 44 | 20 | 51 | 17 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 21 |
| 26 | Orest Kindrachuk | C | 71 | 11 | 30 | 41 | 19 | 85 | 17 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 8 | 17 |
| 11 | Don Saleski | RW | 77 | 15 | 25 | 40 | 21 | 131 | 17 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 24 |
| 8 | Dave Schultz | LW | 73 | 20 | 16 | 36 | 26 | 348 | 17 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 139 |
| 17 | Simon Nolet | RW | 52 | 19 | 17 | 36 | 28 | 13 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 | Tom Bladon | D | 70 | 12 | 22 | 34 | 24 | 37 | 16 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 3 | 25 |
| 15 | Terry Crisp | C | 71 | 10 | 21 | 31 | 12 | 28 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| 6 | Andre Dupont | D | 75 | 3 | 20 | 23 | 34 | 216 | 16 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 67 |
| 20 | Jimmy Watson | D | 74 | 2 | 18 | 20 | 33 | 44 | 17 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 41 |
| 2 | Ed Van Impe | D | 77 | 2 | 16 | 18 | 31 | 119 | 17 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 41 |
| 14 | Joe Watson | D | 74 | 1 | 17 | 18 | 28 | 34 | 17 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 24 |
| 10 | Bill Clement | C | 39 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 15 | 34 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 4 | Barry Ashbee | D | 69 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 52 | 52 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 |
| 9 | Bob Kelly | LW | 65 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 10 | 130 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| 1 | Bernie Parent | G | 73 | 0 | 3 | 3 | | 24 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 4 |
| 5 | Serge Lajeunesse | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 25 | Al MacAdam | RW | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 |
| 30 | Bobby Taylor | G | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 27 | Bruce Cowick | LW | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 9 |

### 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 |
| 1 | Bernie Parent | 73 | 73 | 47 | 13 | 12 | 2006 | 136 | 1.89 | .932 | 12 | 4,307 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 5 | 524 | 35 | 2.02 | .933 | 2 | 1,039 |
| 30 | Bobby Taylor | 7 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 203 | 26 | 4.26 | .872 | 0 | 366 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |

## Awards and records
### Awards

| Type | Award/honor | Recipient |
| League (annual) | Conn Smythe Trophy | Bernie Parent |
| League (annual) | Jack Adams Award | Fred Shero |
| League (annual) | Lester B. Pearson Award | Bobby Clarke |
| League (annual) | NHL first All-Star team | Bernie Parent (Goaltender) |
| League (annual) | NHL second All-Star team | Barry Ashbee (Defense) |
| League (annual) | NHL second All-Star team | Bobby Clarke (Center) |
| League (annual) | Vezina Trophy | Bernie Parent |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Bobby Clarke |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Bernie Parent |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Ed Van Impe |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Joe Watson |

### Records

Goaltender Bernie Parent set a number of still-standing franchise records in his first season after being re-acquired. Parent set the high marks for games played by a goaltender (73), wins (47, which stood as the NHL record for 33 years), shutouts (12), minutes played (4,307), and save percentage (.932). Likewise, the team as a whole set franchise marks for fewest goals allowed (164) and shutouts (13). Parent also set two streak records. From October 11 through January 10, Parent started 37 consecutive games. During that time, he won 23 games. He also won six consecutive playoff games from April 9 to April 23.
Among other players, Bobby Clarke became the first Flyer to score two shorthanded goals in a single game on March 28, a mark which has been tied but not exceeded five times since. Dave Schultz's 139 penalty minutes during the playoffs is a franchise high. Other playoff single year highs include Tom Bladon's three powerplay goals by a defenseman and Rick MacLeish's four game-winning goals, both of which have been subsequently tied twice. The team's nine wins at home during the playoffs is tied for the franchise high.

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date |
| First game | Al MacAdam | October 11, 1973 |
| First game | Bruce Cowick | May 2, 1974 |
| 25th shutout | Bernie Parent | March 3, 1974 |

### Franchise firsts

| Milestone | Player | Date | Ref |
| 30-win season, goaltender | Bernie Parent | February 10, 1974 | |
| 40-win season, goaltender | Bernie Parent | March 16, 1974 | |

## Transactions

The Flyers were involved in the following transactions from May 11, 1973, the day after the deciding game of the 1973 Stanley Cup Finals, through May 19, 1974, the day of the deciding game of the 1974 Stanley Cup Finals.

### Trades

| Date | Details | Details |
| May 14, 1973 (1973-05-14) | To Philadelphia Flyers Serge Lajeunesse | To Detroit Red Wings Rick Foley |
| May 15, 1973 (1973-05-15) | To Philadelphia Flyers Rights to Bernie Parent2nd-round pick in 1973 | To Toronto Maple Leafs 1st-round pick in 1973Future considerations |
| May 25, 1973 (1973-05-25) | To Philadelphia Flyers Bruce Cowick | To San Diego Gulls (WHL) Bob CurrierBob HurlburtJim StanfieldTom Trevelyan |
| May 30, 1973 (1973-05-30) | To Philadelphia Flyers cash | To Toronto Maple Leafs Willie Brossart |
| November 1, 1973 (1973-11-01) | To Philadelphia Flyers George Pesut | To Detroit Red Wings Bob Stumpf |
| December 1973 (1973-12) | To Philadelphia Flyers Ray Schultz | To Toronto Maple Leafs Frank Spring |

### Players acquired

| Date | Player | Former team | Via |
| June 1973 (1973-06) | Steve Coates | Michigan Tech University (WCHA) | Free agency |
| July 31, 1973 (1973-07-31) | Mark Bousquet | American International College (ECAC 2) | Free agency |
| September 1973 (1973-09) | Mike Boland | Ottawa Nationals (WHA) | Free agency |

### Players lost

| Date | Player | New team | Via | Ref |
| September 12, 1973 (1973-09-12) | Wayne Hillman | Cleveland Crusaders (WHA) | Free agency | |
| October 30, 1973 (1973-10-30) | George Swarbrick | Atlanta Flames | Free agency | |

### Signings

| Date | Player | Term |
| June 5, 1973 (1973-06-05) | Mike Clarke | |
| June 5, 1973 (1973-06-05) | Dale Cook | |
| June 5, 1973 (1973-06-05) | Bruce Cowick | multi-year |
| June 5, 1973 (1973-06-05) | Larry Goodenough | |
| June 5, 1973 (1973-06-05) | Michel Latreille | |
| June 5, 1973 (1973-06-05) | Brent Levins | |
| June 5, 1973 (1973-06-05) | Bob Stumpf | |
| June 12, 1973 (1973-06-12) | Orest Kindrachuk | multi-year |
| June 22, 1973 (1973-06-22) | Bernie Parent | multi-year |
| July 31, 1973 (1973-07-31) | Tom Young | |
| July 31, 1973 (1973-07-31) | Don O'Donahue | |
| August 20, 1973 (1973-08-20) | Doug Ferguson | 3-year |

## Draft picks

Philadelphia's picks at the 1973 NHL amateur draft, which was held at the Mount Royal Hotel in Montreal on May 15, 1973.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | Team (league) |
| 2 | 20 | Larry Goodenough | Defense | Canada | London Knights (OHA) |
| 2 | 26 | Brent Leavins | Left Wing | Canada | Swift Current Broncos (WCHL) |
| 3 | 40 | Bob Stumpf | Right Wing | Canada | New Westminster Bruins (WCHL) |
| 3 | 42 | Mike Clarke | Center | Canada | Calgary Centennials (WCHL) |
| 4 | 58 | Dale Cook | Left Wing | Canada | Victoria Cougars (WCHL) |
| 5 | 74 | Michel Latreille | Defense | Canada | Montreal Red White and Blue (QMJHL) |
| 6 | 90 | Doug Ferguson | Defense | Canada | Hamilton Red Wings (OHA) |
| 7 | 106 | Tom Young | Forward | Canada | Sudbury Wolves (OHA) |
| 8 | 122 | Norm Barnes | Defense | Canada | Michigan State University (CCHA) |
| 9 | 137 | Dan O'Donohue | Defense | Canada | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHA) |
| 10 | 153 | Brian Dick | Right Wing | Canada | Winnipeg Jets (WCHL) |

## Farm teams

The Flyers were affiliated with the Richmond Robins of the AHL and the San Diego Gulls of the WHL. Rene Drolet led the Robins with 73 points and Richmond finished 4th in their division and lost in five games to the Baltimore Clippers in the first round of the playoffs. San Diego finished 3rd in the 6-team WHL's final season in existence. The Gulls also ceased operations once the Jersey Knights of the WHA moved to San Diego and became the San Diego Mariners.