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Bob Clarke Senior Vice President
Bob Clarke enters his 41st season as a member of the Flyers organization. He was
named senior vice president on December 4, 2006. Previously, Clarke served as the
general manager of the Flyers for just over 18 seasons (1984-1990, 1994-2006). He
also carried the title of team president and general manager for nine seasons (1994-95
through 2002-03), and spent the 1992-93 season as a senior vice president.
During Clarke’s time at the helm of the Flyers, the team compiled a 714-443-199 record,
including 16 playoff appearances, three Eastern Conference Championships, three
appearances in the Stanley Cup Final and eight division titles. As a player, Clarke led
the Flyers to two Stanley Cup championships (in 1973-74 and 1974-75) and finished his
playing career as the Flyers’ all-time leading scorer with 1,210 points (358 goals and 852
assists) in 1,144 games over 15 seasons.
Clarke retired as a player following the 1983-84 season to become the fourth general
manager in team history, taking over those duties on May 15, 1984. The Flyers went to
the Stanley Cup Final twice in the first three years of Clarke’s tenure, won three Patrick
Division championships, and made the playoffs five times.
On June 15, 1994, Clarke was named president and general manager of the Flyers, a dual role he held until giving up the
president’s duties in 2003. Clarke continued as general manager until stepping down on October 22, 2006. During his second run
as general manager, the Flyers won five more division championships and advanced to the 1997 Stanley Cup Final, marking the
fourth time that Clarke led a team to the Final as GM. He was named as The Sporting News’ and The Hockey News’ Executive
of the Year for the 1994-95 season after the Flyers advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals and captured the Atlantic Division
Championship. He was the first executive to win The Hockey News award in consecutive years with two different teams.
Prior to rejoining the Flyers, Clarke spent one season as vice president and general manager of the Florida Panthers, taking over
the post with the expansion team on March 1, 1993. He was named The Sporting News’ Executive of the Year for the 1993-94
season after the Panthers set an NHL record for points by a first-year team with 83. He was the first to win The Sporting News
awards as rookie, player, and executive.
Clarke also spent two seasons as the vice president and general manager of the Minnesota North Stars, working in that capacity
from June 8, 1990 through June 20, 1992. The North Stars made the playoffs in both seasons under Clarke’s watch, including a
surprising run to the Stanley Cup Final in 1991.
Internationally, Clarke served as general manager of the Canadian Olympic Team for the 1998 Winter Games in Nagano, Japan.
He also served as one of four general managers for the victorious 1987 Team Canada squad in the Canada Cup Tournament.
Clarke played an unparalleled 15-year career in Philadelphia. He was drafted by the Flyers in the second round (17th overall)
of the 1969 NHL Amateur Draft from Flin Flon of the WCJHL, and went on to become the Flyers’ all-time leading scorer with 358
goals and 852 assists for 1,210 points in 1,144 games, averaging over a point per game (1.06) for his entire career. He is 42nd on
the NHL’s all-time regular season scoring list entering the 2010-11 season. He also recorded 42 goals and 77 assists for 119 points
to rank as the Flyers’ all-time leading playoff scorer. He was Flyers’ captain from 1972-73 through 1978-79 and 1982-83 through
1983- 84. During his career, he led the Flyers in scoring eight times, participated in nine NHL All-Star Games, was named to the
NHL’s First All-Star Team twice (1974-75 and 1975-76), and to the Second Team twice (1972-73 and 1973-74).
Clarke is the most decorated player in Flyers history. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on June 15, 1987, and was
a charter inductee, along with Bernie Parent, into the Flyers’ Hall of Fame in March of 1988. He won the Hart Memorial Trophy
as the NHL’s Most Valuable Player three times (1972-73, 1974-75, and 1975-76). His other NHL awards include: the Bill Masterton
Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey (1971-72); the Lester Patrick Award for outstanding service to
hockey in the United States (along with co-recipient Ed Snider, 1979-80); and the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the NHL’s top defensive
forward (1982-83).He was named Living Legend by the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association at their 2001 Awards Banquet. He
also won the Philadelphia Sportswriters “Good Guy” Award in 1982-83, giving him the first clean sweep of PSA honors (Athlete
of the Year in 1974 and Most Courageous Athlete in 1980).
Clarke was born on August 13, 1949, in Flin Flon, Manitoba. He and his wife, Sandy, reside in New Jersey and have four childrensons
Wade and Luke and daughters Jody and Jakki. They also have six grandchildren.
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