Rick MacLeish

Lore & Background

MacLeish was selected fourth overall by the Boston Bruins in the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft. He was traded to the Flyers in a three-way deal involving Bernie Parent and Mike Walton. In the 1972–73 season, he became the first Flyer to score 50 goals in a season, finishing with 50 goals and 50 assists. He scored the only goal in Game 6 of the 1974 Stanley Cup Finals. MacLeish led the Flyers in playoff scoring during both championship years. He suffered a cut neck requiring 80 stitches in a 1978 game against the Los Angeles Kings. He was traded to the Hartford Whalers after the 1980–81 season, later played for Pittsburgh, briefly in Switzerland, rejoined the Flyers, and finished his career with the Detroit Red Wings.

Reader's Guide

MacLeish was known for his smooth, long-stride skating developed from river skating, and a whipping, accurate wrist shot. He was the Flyers' first pure goal-scoring 'sniper.'

Did You Know?

• MacLeish scored 47 playoff goals for the Flyers, not 53, and does not share the franchise record with Bill Barber.
• MacLeish narrowly missed the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1974, which went to teammate Bernie Parent.
• He died on May 30, 2016, at age 66 from meningitis, as well as kidney and liver failure.