2005–06 Philadelphia Flyers season

Updated on Dec 23, 2023

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Division 2nd Atlantic 2005–06 record 45–26–11 Road record 23–13–5		Conference 5th Eastern Home record 22–13–6 Goals for 267

The 2005–06 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Flyers' 39th season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Flyers lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Buffalo Sabres in six games.

Off-season

The Flyers were one of the more active teams once the lockout came to an end. Replacing the high-profile names of Tony Amonte, John LeClair and Jeremy Roenick were superstar Peter Forsberg, along with defensemen Derian Hatcher and Mike Rathje, as well as several players from the Calder Cup-winning Philadelphia Phantoms. When all was said and done, the team had experienced a turnover of nearly two-thirds of the roster.

Regular season

The Flyers began the season with lofty expectations. Despite being hampered by injuries prior to and during 2005–06, the Flyers lived up to those expectations in the first half of the season, reaching the top of the league standings in January while simultaneously holding a ten-point lead in the Atlantic Division. The Deuces Wild line of Forsberg, Simon Gagne and Mike Knuble recorded 75, 79 and 65 points respectively, while Gagne scored a career high 47 goals.

However, the injuries began to accumulate and take their toll. Keith Primeau suffered a concussion on October 25 in Montreal and missed the rest of the season and the playoffs. In late January, Hatcher was named team captain for the duration of Primeau's absence. All told, the Flyers were third in the NHL with 388 man-games lost to injury, tops amongst playoff teams. The second half of the regular season was defined by a record hovering around .500, sending the Flyers on a steady slide in the standings. The Flyers fell short of an Atlantic Division title finishing second by tie-breaker to the New Jersey Devils and drawing the 5th seed and a first round match-up with the Buffalo Sabres.

Divisions: AT – Atlantic, NE – Northeast, SE – Southeast

Z- Clinched Conference; Y- Clinched Division; X- Clinched Playoff spot

Playoffs

The Flyers lost to Buffalo in six games.

Skaters

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.

Transactions

The Flyers were involved in the following transactions from February 17, 2005, the day after the 2004–05 season was officially canceled, through June 19, 2006, the day of the deciding game of the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals.

Trades

Trade notes

^a Option exercised.

^b Option not exercised.

^c The Flyers received the draft pick as compensation for the Kings hiring Lombardi as their general manager. Lombardi served as a Western Conference scout with the Flyers.

Free agency

The following players were signed by the Flyers via free agency. Two-way contracts are marked with an asterisk (*).

Re-signed

The following players were re-signed by the Flyers. Two-way contracts are marked with an asterisk (*).

Entry level contracts

The following players — Flyers draft picks, undrafted free agents, and the unsigned draft picks of other teams — were signed by the Flyers to entry level contracts.

Departures

The following players left the team via free agency, release, or retirement. Players who were under contract and left the team during the season are marked with an asterisk (*).

Draft picks

Philadelphia's picks at the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, which was held at the Westin Hotel Ottawa in Ottawa, Ontario on July 30, 2005.

Draft notes

^a The Flyers traded their first-round pick, 20th overall, to the Florida Panthers for the Panthers' first-round pick, 29th overall, and the Panthers' 2006 second-round pick on July 30, 2005.

The Flyers traded their second-round pick, 41st overall, and Rick Kozak to the New York Rangers for Vladimir Malakhov on March 8, 2004.

The Flyers traded their third-round pick, 81st overall, their 2004 first-round pick, and Jeff Woywitka to the Edmonton Oilers for Mike Comrie on December 16, 2003.

^b The Flyers traded their 2004 fifth and sixth-round picks and the San Jose Sharks' 2004 sixth-round pick to the Tampa Bay Lightning for the Lightning's third-round pick, 91st overall, on June 27, 2004.

The Flyers traded their fourth-round pick, 102nd overall, and the Dallas Stars' third-round pick, 89th overall, to the Tampa Bay Lightning for the Lightning's 2006 second-round pick on July 30, 2005.

^c The Flyers traded Todd Fedoruk to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim for the Mighty Ducks' second-round pick, 59th overall, on July 27, 2005. The Flyers traded the Mighty Ducks' pick to the Phoenix Coyotes for the Columbus Blue Jackets' fourth-round pick, 119th overall, and the Coyotes' 2006 second-round pick on July 30, 2005.