Throwback Flyers Legend of the Day: Dave Brown

Bad, Bad, Dave Brown. What a juggernaut we have here today.

Dave Brown was selected 140th overall in the 7th Round of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers. Brown, a burley 6’5 222lbs out of tropical Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, was an ABSOLUTE PITBULL. He’s definitely one guy that you wouldn’t want to see walking down Broad Street after  a 2am Happy Hour at Rexy’s. I wouldn’t be a hero and challenge him.

Brown played 11 seasons with the Flyers including two different stints from 1982-1989 and 1991-1995. Playing 14 total years in the NHL, Dave also played for the Edmonton Oilers and the San Jose Sharks.

As I mentioned earlier, Brown was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in 1982. He was eventually traded on February 7th, 1989 to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for forward Keith Acton and a 1991 6th round pick (Dmitry Yushkevich).

Brown was later re-acquired by the Flyers on May 30th, 1991 along with defenseman Corey Foster and Hall of Fame forward, Jari Kurri who was traded to the Kings that same day from Edmonton in exchange for forwards Craig Berube, Scott Mellanby, and Craig Fisher.

In 11 seasons with the Flyers, Brown played 552 games and scored 39 goals and 78 points in that span. It wasn’t goals fans expected when ol’ Dave jumped over the boards, it was fights. Brown amassed 1382 PIMS in those 552 games, including 277 in 1986 and 274 in 1987.

Dave Brown was different. This type of enforcer is no longer found in the today’s NHL because anyone who played hockey in the 80’s and 90’s feared him. Anyone who watched hockey revered him as he was one of the baddest animals in the hockey jungle.

His brass left hand should be molded at the HHOF in Toronto. I can’t even begin to imagine the things this guy would do, not only on the ice, but off the ice. A true warrior in every sense of the word. Some days I dream that he would take a swing and fight
Gritty. Meh, just a dream.

Here’s to YOU, Dave. Stick taps, We salute you.

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