# 1987–88 Philadelphia Flyers season

The 1987–88 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Philadelphia Flyers' 21st season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Flyers lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Washington Capitals in seven games.

## Regular season

The season was one of many ups and downs. With Ron Hextall lost to an eight-game suspension to start the year after slashing Kent Nilsson in the Stanley Cup Finals, Tim Kerr lost indefinitely with a shoulder problem, and Brad McCrimmon traded to Calgary over a salary dispute, the club limped to a 3–6–2 record in October. Additionally, Dave Brown served a 15-game suspension for cross-checking New York Ranger Tomas Sandstrom in the face on October 26.
The free-fall continued until late November. After blowing a 4–1 lead into a 6–4 loss to the Islanders at home on November 21, the Flyers were at 6–13–3 and last in the division. However, just as quickly, the club rebounded with a 14-game unbeaten streak (12–0–2) from November 25 to December 26 – despite losing out to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Paul Coffey sweepstakes. The run was highlighted by Hextall becoming the first goaltender to shoot the puck into the opposing team's net on December 8, a game-winning two-man short tally by Murray Craven in Winnipeg on December 13, and a post-Christmas comeback win against the Capitals.
A 6–0–1 run through late February and early March saw Rick Tocchet post three hat tricks in a span of four games (Detroit, at Los Angeles, at Vancouver). On February 23, the club set a still-standing franchise road record with 11 goals in an amazing 11–6 win in Detroit, including a team-record 7 third-period tallies.
After a 7–3 win over the Canucks March 1, the Flyers finished the year in free-fall due to almost daily injuries, going 4–11–2, ending up the lower seed in a second-place tie with Washington. Kerr returned to the lineup finally on March 10, but was unable to find his range before the playoffs began.

### Season standings

Patrick Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| New York Islanders | 80 | 39 | 31 | 10 | 308 | 267 | 88 |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 80 | 38 | 33 | 9 | 292 | 292 | 85 |
| Washington Capitals | 80 | 38 | 33 | 9 | 281 | 249 | 85 |
| New Jersey Devils | 80 | 38 | 36 | 6 | 295 | 296 | 82 |
| New York Rangers | 80 | 36 | 34 | 10 | 300 | 283 | 82 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 80 | 36 | 35 | 9 | 319 | 316 | 81 |
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

### Record vs. opponents

Patrick Division record vs. opponents :
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Patrick Division
1987–88 NHL records
Team
NJD
NYI
NYR
PHI
PIT
WSH
Total
New Jersey
—3–43–45–0–26–12–519–14–2
N.Y. Islanders
4–3—2–2–33–3–12–4–14–2–115–14–6
N.Y. Rangers
4–32–2–3—3–3–12–3–22–513–16–6
Philadelphia
0–5–23–3–13–3–1—5–22–4–113–17–5
Pittsburgh
1–64–2–13–2–22–5—5–1–115–16–4
Washington
5–22–4–15–24–2–11–5–1—17–15–3
Vs. Adams Division
1987–88 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
HFD
MTL
QUE
Total
New Jersey
1–20–2–11–1–12–10–34–9–2
N.Y. Islanders
2–12–12–10–32–18–7–0
N.Y. Rangers
2–10–32–11–1–12–17–7–1
Philadelphia
2–13–02–10–1–22–0–19–3–3
Pittsburgh
0–2–12–0–12–12–13–09–4–2
Washington
2–10–2–12–11–1–12–17–6–2
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Norris Division
1987–88 NHL records
Team
CHI
DET
MIN
STL
TOR
Total
New Jersey
3–00–33–03–02–111–4–0
N.Y. Islanders
0–1–21–21–1–12–0–10–34–7–4
N.Y. Rangers
2–0–11–1–12–13–02–110–3–2
Philadelphia
0–32–0–12–12–11–27–7–1
Pittsburgh
2–11–22–10–32–17–8–0
Washington
2–10–2–12–0–10–2–11–1–15–6–4
Vs. Smythe Division
1987–88 NHL records
Team
CGY
EDM
LAK
VAN
WIN
Total
New Jersey
1–22–11–1–10–30–2–14–9–2
N.Y. Islanders
2–12–13–03–02–112–3–0
N.Y. Rangers
1–21–20–32–12–0–16–8–1
Philadelphia
0–31–23–02–13–09–6–0
Pittsburgh
2–0–10–31–0–21–21–25–7–3
Washington
1–22–12–13–01–29–6–0 :

## Playoffs

In their first round playoff series with the Washington Capitals, the Flyers blew a 3–1 series lead as Washington forced a Game 7. They then blew a 3–0 lead in Game 7 as Washington won 5–4, in overtime.
Afterwards, general manager Bobby Clarke fired head coach Mike Keenan citing a lack of enthusiasm from the club to continue playing for him.

## Schedule and results
### Regular season

1987–88 regular season :
October: 3–6–2, 8 points (home: 1–4–1; road: 2–2–1)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
1October 8Montreal Canadiens2–2 OT0–0–11Recap
2October 10@ Minnesota North Stars5–41–0–13Recap
3October 11Chicago Blackhawks3–51–1–13Recap
4October 15New York Islanders0–61–2–13Recap
5October 17@ New York Islanders4–32–2–15Recap
6October 18Pittsburgh Penguins3–23–2–17Recap
7October 22Washington Capitals1–43–3–17Recap
8October 24New York Rangers3–53–4–17Recap
9October 26@ New York Rangers2–2 OT3–4–28Recap
10October 27@ New Jersey Devils0–43–5–28Recap
11October 31@ Hartford Whalers4–73–6–28Recap :
November: 5–7–1, 11 points (home: 4–3–1; road: 1–4–0)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
12November 1Los Angeles Kings4–14–6–210Recap
13November 3@ Pittsburgh Penguins1–54–7–210Recap
14November 5Vancouver Canucks3–44–8–210Recap
15November 7@ Montreal Canadiens4–54–9–210Recap
16November 8New Jersey Devils3–3 OT4–9–311Recap
17November 10@ St. Louis Blues2–54–10–311Recap
18November 12Pittsburgh Penguins5–25–10–313Recap
19November 14Toronto Maple Leafs0–65–11–313Recap
20November 18@ New Jersey Devils3–45–12–313Recap
21November 19Los Angeles Kings7–56–12–315Recap
22November 21New York Islanders4–66–13–315Recap
23November 25Buffalo Sabres5–27–13–317Recap
24November 28@ Quebec Nordiques6–38–13–319Recap :
December: 10–2–2, 22 points (home: 5–0–1; road: 5–2–1)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
25December 3Hartford Whalers5–29–13–321Recap
26December 6New Jersey Devils1–1 OT9–13–422Recap
27December 8Boston Bruins5–210–13–424Recap
28December 10New York Rangers5–311–13–426Recap
29December 11@ Detroit Red Wings3–3 OT11–13–527Recap
30December 13@ Winnipeg Jets4–312–13–529Recap
31December 15@ Pittsburgh Penguins5–213–13–531Recap
32December 17New York Islanders4–314–13–533Recap
33December 19@ New York Islanders5–415–13–535Recap
34December 22@ New York Rangers6–416–13–537Recap
35December 23Minnesota North Stars5–317–13–539Recap
36December 26@ Washington Capitals3–218–13–541Recap
37December 30@ Edmonton Oilers0–618–14–541Recap
38December 31@ Calgary Flames4–518–15–541Recap :
January: 8–5–1, 17 points (home: 4–4–0; road: 4–1–1)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
39January 2@ Vancouver Canucks4–119–15–543Recap
40January 5Washington Capitals1–319–16–543Recap
41January 7St. Louis Blues6–420–16–545Recap
42January 9@ Montreal Canadiens3–3 OT20–16–646Recap
43January 10New Jersey Devils5–720–17–646Recap
44January 14Buffalo Sabres3–121–17–648Recap
45January 15@ Pittsburgh Penguins5–422–17–650Recap
46January 17@ New York Rangers2–123–17–652Recap
47January 21Edmonton Oilers3–124–17–654Recap
48January 23@ Boston Bruins6–425–17–656Recap
49January 24Minnesota North Stars3–525–18–656Recap
50January 28New York Rangers2–525–19–656Recap
51January 30Winnipeg Jets4–326–19–658Recap
52January 31@ Washington Capitals0–1 OT26–20–658Recap :
February: 7–2–1, 15 points (home: 3–1–1; road: 4–1–0)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
53February 4Toronto Maple Leafs6–127–20–660Recap
54February 6@ St. Louis Blues4–228–20–662Recap
55February 12Calgary Flames2–328–21–662Recap
56February 13@ Toronto Maple Leafs4–728–22–662Recap
57February 15Hartford Whalers5–4 OT29–22–664Recap
58February 18New York Islanders3–3 OT29–22–765Recap
59February 19@ Buffalo Sabres5–430–22–767Recap
60February 21Detroit Red Wings5–331–22–769Recap
61February 23@ Detroit Red Wings11–632–22–771Recap
62February 27@ Los Angeles Kings8–633–22–773Recap :
March: 4–11–1, 9 points (home: 3–3–1; road: 1–8–0)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
63March 1@ Vancouver Canucks7–334–22–775Recap
64March 3@ Calgary Flames3–634–23–775Recap
65March 4@ Edmonton Oilers4–734–24–775Recap
66March 6@ New Jersey Devils2–434–25–775Recap
67March 10Washington Capitals5–235–25–777Recap
68March 12New Jersey Devils5–635–26–777Recap
69March 13@ Chicago Blackhawks4–5 OT35–27–777Recap
70March 15@ New York Rangers1–335–28–777Recap
71March 17Chicago Blackhawks3–4 OT35–29–777Recap
72March 19@ Pittsburgh Penguins0–735–30–777Recap
73March 20Pittsburgh Penguins4–236–30–779Recap
74March 22Boston Bruins0–336–31–779Recap
75March 25@ Washington Capitals3–536–32–779Recap
76March 26Winnipeg Jets6–037–32–781Recap
77March 29@ New York Islanders3–537–33–781Recap
78March 31Quebec Nordiques4–4 OT37–33–882Recap :
April: 1–0–1, 3 points (home: 0–0–1; road: 1–0–0)
GameDateOpponentScoreRecordPointsRecap
79April 2@ Quebec Nordiques7–438–33–884Recap
80April 3Washington Capitals2–2 OT38–33–985Recap :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point) :

### Playoffs

1988 Stanley Cup playoffs :
Patrick Division Semifinals vs. Washington Capitals – Capitals win 4–3
GameDateOpponentScoreSeriesRecap
1April 6@ Washington Capitals4–2Flyers lead 1–0Recap
2April 7@ Washington Capitals4–5Series tied 1–1Recap
3April 9Washington Capitals4–3Flyers lead 2–1Recap
4April 10Washington Capitals5–4 OTFlyers lead 3–1Recap
5April 12@ Washington Capitals2–5Flyers lead 3–2Recap
6April 14Washington Capitals2–7Series tied 3–3Recap
7April 16@ Washington Capitals4–5 OTCapitals win 4–3Recap :
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 |
| 32 | Murray Craven | LW | 72 | 30 | 46 | 76 | 25 | 58 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 4 |
| 26 | Brian Propp | LW | 74 | 27 | 49 | 76 | 8 | 76 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 8 |
| 22 | Rick Tocchet | RW | 65 | 31 | 33 | 64 | 3 | 299 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 5 | −1 | 55 |
| 2 | Mark Howe | D | 75 | 19 | 43 | 62 | 23 | 62 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 4 |
| 25 | Peter Zezel | C | 69 | 22 | 35 | 57 | 7 | 42 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 7 |
| 19 | Scott Mellanby | RW | 75 | 25 | 26 | 51 | −7 | 185 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −6 | 16 |
| 20 | Dave Poulin | C | 68 | 19 | 32 | 51 | 17 | 32 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 4 |
| 23 | Ilkka Sinisalo | RW | 68 | 25 | 17 | 42 | 2 | 30 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| 9 | Pelle Eklund | C | 71 | 10 | 32 | 42 | −6 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| 3 | Doug Crossman | D | 76 | 9 | 29 | 38 | −1 | 43 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −9 | 8 |
| 14 | Ron Sutter | C | 69 | 8 | 25 | 33 | −9 | 146 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −7 | 26 |
| 28 | Kjell Samuelsson | D | 74 | 6 | 24 | 30 | 28 | 184 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 23 |
| 24 | Derrick Smith | LW | 76 | 16 | 8 | 24 | −20 | 104 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −7 | 6 |
| 5 | Kerry Huffman | D | 52 | 6 | 17 | 23 | −11 | 34 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | Dave Brown | RW | 47 | 12 | 5 | 17 | 10 | 114 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −4 | 27 |
| 44 | Willie Huber† | D | 10 | 4 | 9 | 13 | −2 | 16 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −3 | 2 |
| 8 | Brad Marsh | D | 70 | 3 | 9 | 12 | −13 | 57 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −8 | 8 |
| 18 | Lindsay Carson‡ | C | 36 | 2 | 7 | 9 | −4 | 37 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 7 | Brian Dobbin | RW | 21 | 3 | 5 | 8 | −1 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 27 | Ron Hextall | G | 62 | 1 | 6 | 7 | | 104 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | | 30 |
| 6 | Greg Smyth | D | 48 | 1 | 6 | 7 | −2 | 192 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 38 |
| 10 | Magnus Roupe | LW | 33 | 2 | 4 | 6 | −6 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 17 | Craig Berube | LW | 27 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 108 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 12 | Tim Kerr | RW | 8 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 12 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −2 | 4 |
| 18 | Paul Lawless†‡ | LW | 8 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 15 | J. J. Daigneault | D | 28 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −8 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 42 | Don Nachbaur | C | 20 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 61 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 2 |
| 36 | Gordie Roberts†‡ | D | 11 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 34 | Bill Root† | D | 24 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 36 | Al Hill | LW | 12 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 11 | Glen Seabrooke | LW | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 40 | Jeff Chychrun | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 39 | David Fenyves | D | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 29 | Nick Fotiu | LW | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −9 | 40 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 45 | Mark Freer | C | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 33 | Mark Laforest | G | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 10 |
| 37 | Mitch Lamoureux | C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 39 | Mike Murray | C | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 41 | John Stevens | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 44 | Mike Stothers‡ | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 30 | Wendell Young | G | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 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 | 62 | 61 | 30 | 22 | 7 | 1816 | 208 | 3.51 | .886 | 0 | 3,557 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 196 | 30 | 4.75 | .847 | 0 | 379 |
| 33 | Mark Laforest | 21 | 14 | 5 | 9 | 2 | 476 | 60 | 3.72 | .874 | 1 | 969 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 1.25 | .917 | 0 | 48 |
| 30 | Wendell Young | 6 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 148 | 20 | 3.76 | .866 | 0 | 319 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |

## Awards and records
### Awards

| Type | Award/honor | Recipient |
| League (annual) | Lester Patrick Trophy | Keith Allen |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Ron Hextall |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Mark Howe |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Mike Keenan (Coach) |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Dave Poulin |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Kjell Samuelsson |
| League (in-season) | NHL Player of the Week | Ron Hextall (December 14) |
| League (in-season) | NHL Player of the Week | Mark Howe (December 28) |
| League (in-season) | NHL Player of the Week | Ron Hextall (January 18) |
| League (in-season) | NHL Player of the Week | Rick Tocchet (February 28) |
| League (in-season) | NHL Player of the Week | Rick Tocchet (March 10) |
| Team | Barry Ashbee Trophy | Mark Howe |
| Team | Bobby Clarke Trophy | Ron Hextall |
| Team | Class Guy Award | Rick Tocchet |

### Records

Among the team records set during the 1987–88 season was the nine consecutive wins by goaltender Ron Hextall from December 8 to December 26, tying a team record. On February 23, the Flyers scored the fastest five goals in team history, taking five minutes and twenty-nine seconds to do so. On February 27, Rick Tocchet scored four goals to tie the team record. The eight-game road losing streak from March 3 to March 29 is tied for the longest in team history. On March 19, Don Nachbaur took a team record eight penalties. Mark Howe set a single season high for powerplay goals scored by a defenseman (8, later tied). The 208 goals allowed by Hextall is a single season high for a Flyers goaltender. The team’s three road ties is tied for the fewest in franchise history. The 31 goals allowed during their division semifinal series against the Washington Capitals is the most allowed during any playoff series the Flyers have played.

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date | Ref |
| First game | Magnus Roupe | October 8, 1987 | |
| First game | Mike Murray | March 15, 1988 | |

## Transactions

The Flyers were involved in the following transactions from June 1, 1987, the day after the deciding game of the 1987 Stanley Cup Finals, through May 26, 1988, the day of the deciding game of the 1988 Stanley Cup Finals.

### Trades

| Date | Details | Details |
| June 13, 1987 (1987-06-13) | To Philadelphia Flyers Mark Laforest | To Detroit Red Wings 2nd-round pick in 1987 |
| June 13, 1987 (1987-06-13) | To Philadelphia Flyers 5th-round pick in 1989 | To Vancouver Canucks Vancouver's 5th-round pick in 1987 |
| July 21, 1987 (1987-07-21) | To Philadelphia Flyers Future considerations | To New York Rangers Jeff Brubaker |
| August 26, 1987 (1987-08-26) | To Philadelphia Flyers 1st-round pick in 19893rd-round pick in 1988 | To Calgary Flames Brad McCrimmon |
| August 31, 1987 (1987-08-31) | To Philadelphia Flyers Wendell Young3rd-round pick in 1990 | To Vancouver Canucks Darren JensenDaryl Stanley |
| December 4, 1987 (1987-12-04) | To Philadelphia Flyers 5th-round pick in 1989 | To Toronto Maple Leafs Mike Stothers |
| January 22, 1988 (1988-01-22) | To Philadelphia Flyers Paul Lawless | To Hartford Whalers Lindsay Carson |
| February 9, 1988 (1988-02-09) | To Philadelphia Flyers Gordie Roberts | To Minnesota North Stars 4th-round pick in 1988 or 1989 |
| March 1, 1988 (1988-03-01) | To Philadelphia Flyers Willie Huber | To Vancouver Canucks Paul LawlessVancouver's 5th-round pick in 1989 |
| March 8, 1988 (1988-03-08) | To Philadelphia Flyers 4th or 5th-round pick in 1989 | To St. Louis Blues Gordie Roberts |

### Players acquired

| Date | Player | Former team | Term | Via |
| July 21, 1987 (1987-07-21) | Don Biggs | Edmonton Oilers | | Free agency |
| August 19, 1987 (1987-08-19) | Mark Lofthouse | Los Angeles Kings | | Free agency |
| October 5, 1987 (1987-10-05) | David Fenyves | Buffalo Sabres | | Waiver draft |
| October 30, 1987 (1987-10-30) | Nick Fotiu | Calgary Flames | 1-year | Free agency |
| November 26, 1987 (1987-11-26) | Bill Root | St. Louis Blues | | Waivers |
| April 20, 1988 (1988-04-20) | Michael Boyce | Merrimack College (NCAA) | | Free agency |

### Players lost

| Date | Player | New team | Via |
| June 1987 (1987-06) | Glenn Resch | | Retirement |
| October 3, 1987 (1987-10-03) | Steve Martinson | Detroit Red Wings | Free agency |
| October 5, 1987 (1987-10-05) | Ed Hospodar | Buffalo Sabres | Waiver draft |
| October 5, 1987 (1987-10-05) | Tim Tookey | Los Angeles Kings | Waiver draft |
| N/A | Jere Gillis | Brunico SG (Serie A) | Free agency |

### Signings

| Date | Player | Term | Ref |
| November 12, 1987 (1987-11-12) | Shaun Sabol | | |
| November 17, 1987 (1987-11-17) | Ron Hextall | multi-year | |

## Draft picks
### NHL entry draft

Philadelphia's picks at the 1987 NHL entry draft, which was held at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, on June 13, 1987. The Flyers traded their second-round pick, 41st overall, to the Detroit Red Wings for Mark Laforest on June 13, 1987.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | Team (league) |
| 1 | 20 | Darren Rumble | Defense | Canada | Kitchener Rangers (OHL) |
| 2 | 30 | Jeff Harding | Right wing | Canada | St. Michael's Buzzers (Toronto) |
| 3 | 62 | Martin Hostak | Right wing | Czechoslovakia | Sparta Praha (Czech) |
| 4 | 83 | Tomaz Eriksson | Left wing | Sweden | Djurgardens IF (Elitserien) |
| 5 | 104 | Bill Gall | Defense | United States | New Hampton School (N.H.) |
| 6 | 125 | Tony Link | Defense | United States | Dimond High School (Alaska) |
| 7 | 146 | Marc Strapon | Defense | United States | Hayward High School (Wisconsin) |
| 8 | 167 | Darryl Ingham | Right wing | Canada | University of Manitoba (CIAU) |
| 9 | 188 | Bruce MacDonald | Right wing | United States | Loomis Chaffee School (Conn.) |
| 10 | 209 | Steve Morrow | Defense | United States | Westminster School (Conn.) |
| 11 | 230 | Darius Rusnak | Center | Czechoslovakia | Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia) |
| 12 | 251 | Dale Roehl | Goaltender | United States | Minnetonka High School (Minn.) |

### NHL supplemental draft

Philadelphia's picks at the 1987 NHL supplemental draft.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | Team (league) |
| 2 | 21 | David Whyte | Left wing | United States | Boston College (HE) |

## Farm teams

The Flyers were affiliated with the Hershey Bears of the AHL and the Flint Spirits of the IHL. Led by the Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award winner as coach of the year (John Paddock), the Eddie Shore Award winner as top defenseman (Dave Fenyves), and the Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award as top goaltender (Wendell Young), Hershey finished first in their division and swept their way through the playoffs with a 12–0 record to a Calder Cup championship. Young was given the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as playoff MVP. In their only season as a Flyers affiliate, Flint finished fourth in the playoffs and lost in the finals to the Salt Lake Golden Eagles in six games.