#36 - Bobby Clarke

Bobby Clarke (Murillo Pyramid Rank = #36)

Adjusted Stats

1969-1970   Phi          82 GP   17 goals   35 assists   53 points     0.64 PPG
1970-1971   Phi          81 GP   28 goals   37 assists   65 points     0.81 PPG
1971-1972   Phi          82 GP   37 goals   49 assists   85 points     1.04 PPG
1972-1973   Phi          82 GP   37 goals   66 assists   103 points   1.25 PPG
1973-1974   Phi*        81 GP   35 goals   53 assists   88 points     1.09 PPG
1974-1975   Phi*        82 GP   25 goals   82 assists   107 points   1.30 PPG
1975-1976   Phi          78 GP   28 goals   82 assists   110 points   1.41 PPG
1976-1977   Phi          82 GP   26 goals   60 assists   85 points     1.04 PPG
1977-1978   Phi          73 GP   20 goals   65 assists   85 points     1.17 PPG
1978-1979   Phi          82 GP   14 goals   51 assists   66 points     0.80 PPG
1979-1980   Phi          78 GP   11 goals   51 assists   62 points     0.79 PPG
1980-1981   Phi          82 GP   16 goals   38 assists   53 points     0.65 PPG
1981-1982   Phi          64 GP   13 goals   36 assists   49 points     0.78 PPG
1982-1983   Phi          82 GP   19 goals   51 assists   69 points     0.85 PPG
1983-1984   Phi          75 GP   14 goals   34 assists   48 points     0.64 PPG

Adjusted Playoff Stats

1970-1971   Phi          4 GP      0 goals     0 assists     0 points      0.00 PPG
1972-1973   Phi          11 GP    2 goals     5 assists     7 points      0.64 PPG
1973-1974   Phi*        17 GP    5 goals     11 assists   16 points    0.92 PPG
1974-1975   Phi*        17 GP    4 goals     11 assists   15 points    0.86 PPG
1975-1976   Phi          16 GP    2 goals     14 assists   16 points    0.97 PPG
1976-1977   Phi          10 GP    4 goals     4 assists     9 points      0.88 PPG
1977-1978   Phi          12 GP    4 goals     7 assists     11 points    0.89 PPG
1978-1979   Phi          8 GP      2 goals     4 assists     5 points      0.68 PPG
1979-1980   Phi          19 GP    7 goals     10 assists   17 points    0.90 PPG
1980-1981   Phi          12 GP    2 goals     2 assists     4 points      0.35 PPG
1981-1982   Phi          4 GP      3 goals     2 assists     5 points      1.17 PPG
1982-1983   Phi          3 GP      1 goal      0 assists     1 point        0.26 PPG
1983-1984   Phi          3 GP      2 goals    1 assist       3 points       0.89 PPG

Career - 1186 GP, 340 goals, 790 assists, 1132 points, 0.95 PPG
Career-Highs - 37 goals (72-73); 82 assists (75-76); 110 points (75-76); 1.41 PPG (75-76)
Avg. (15 seasons) - 79 GP, 23 goals, 53 assists, 75 points, 0.95 PPG
Peak Avg. (71-79) - 80 GP, 28 goals, 64 assists, 91 points, 1.14 PPG, 2 Cups

Playoff Career - 136 GP, 38 goals, 71 assists, 109 points, 0.80 PPG
Playoff-Highs - 7 goals (79-80); 14 assists (75-76); 17 points (79-80); 1.17 PPG (81-82)

Accolades - 3 MVP awards, 1 Selke Trophy
All-Star Teams - 2-time 1st-team, 2-time 2nd-team
2-time Stanley Cup Champion

I think if you mention hockey to someone who is perhaps, at best, a casual fan, then one of the first images that will come to their mind is that of the toothless grin of Bobby Clarke. It's an iconic image that for many people symbolizes the grit and toughness that Canadian hockey is all about. Or, to be less charitable, it also symbolizes the dirtiness and intimidation of the 1970s Flyers teams, the Broad Street Bullies.

Bobby Clarke was a mean son-of-a-bitch. On this, there is no question. He is one of the major reasons why, unlike most Canadians, I am ashamed of the 1972 "Summit Series" and how we committed ourselves:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOMJsJhHlyM

But Clarke's notorious cheapness should not be factored against him when considering his place among the great two-way centers. Picture his modern-day equivalent as Mike Richards, also of the Flyers. As great and as valuable as Richards is, he is usually in the 70-80 point range (maybe 75-85 after adjustments), whereas look at the numbers Clarke put up in the mid 70s, when the Flyers were at their best: 103, 88, 107, 110. So Clarke, for the four or five brief years, was almost as good as Peter Forsberg at his best.

Still, I must say I consider Clarke to be a tad overrated in general polls of the best centers. He tends to be rated ahead of Trottier, and shouldn't be, because Trottier's offensive highs were far more impressive, and Trottier was able to play remarkable shut-down defence without resorting to the questionable tactics of Clarke. There is also the fact that, although the Flyers won two Stanley Cups, Clarke only once in his career averaged over an adjusted point-a-game in the playoffs. Perhaps Clarke's high reputation stems from the fact that, as I mentioned, for many people he epitomizes what hockey is. I tend to value talent and cleverness a little higher than pure grit and a willingness to do anything to win...but hell, to each their own.