Tim Kerr

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Kerr was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Philadelphia Flyers in 1980. He missed most of the 1982-83 season with knee issues and a broken leg, but turned things around starting in 1983-84, beginning a team-record run of four consecutive 50-goal campaigns. He set the NHL single-season record for power play goals with 34 in 1985–86. During the first round of the 1985 playoffs, he set an NHL single-game record by scoring four goals in 8:16 in the second period of a 6–5 victory at Madison Square Garden. In September 1985 he was hospitalized with aseptic meningitis but recovered to set a career best of 58 goals. The following year he again scored 58 goals, finishing second in the NHL to Wayne Gretzky. Injuries hindered his career: a knee injury in the 1985 playoffs, a shoulder injury in 1987 that cost him the final two series, leading to five shoulder operations in 14 months. He missed most of 1987-88 but rebounded with 48 goals in 1988-89, earning the Bill Masterton Trophy. He was left exposed in the 1991 expansion draft, claimed by San Jose, then dealt to the New York Rangers, and played one more season with Hartford before retiring at age 33.

In Their Own Story

Kerr's ascension into the ranks of NHL superstars was hindered by injuries and bad luck. In the 1985 playoffs, a knee injury hampered his ability to play in the final two rounds of the postseason. In 1987, a shoulder injury suffered in the second round cost him the entire final two series against the Montreal Canadiens and Edmonton Oilers. As a result of the setback, Kerr endured five shoulder operations in a 14-month period and missed all but a handful of the 1987-88 regular season, while being largely ineffective in Philly's seven-game loss to the Washington Capitals in the Patrick Division Semifinals. While Kerr would rebound and play 69 games and score 48 goals in 1988-89—a feat which earned him the Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance and dedication to the sport—he never again played more than half the schedule the rest of his career. He was left exposed in the 1991 expansion draft, and after being claimed by the San Jose Sharks, was quickly dealt to the New York Rangers. One more season with the Hartford Whalers ensued, before his retirement at age 33.

Reader's Guide

Kerr currently ranks 9th all-time in goals per game (minimum 500 games played) with 370 goals in 655 NHL regular season games for 0.56 per game. He is 2nd all time in career shooting percentage (20.3) in NHL playoff history (among players with 40+ career goals). He is one of fifteen players in NHL history with four 50-goal seasons. He holds the NHL single-season record for most power play goals (34 in 1985–86), the playoff record for most power play goals in a period (3), the playoff record for fastest 4 goals in a game (8:16), and shares playoff records for most goals in a period (4), most points in one period (4), and most goals by a player not to make the Stanley Cup Finals (14). His Philadelphia Flyers franchise records include most 50-goal seasons (4), most regular season power play goals in one season (34), most regular season career power play goals (145), most regular season hat tricks in one season (5), most regular season career hat tricks (17), highest regular season career goals per game average (0.60), and many others.

Did You Know?

• Kerr set an NHL single-game record by scoring four goals in 8:16 in the second period of a playoff game against the New York Rangers in 1985.
• He set the NHL single-season record for power play goals with 34 in 1985–86.
• Kerr was awarded the Bill Masterton Trophy in 1989 for perseverance and dedication to hockey.
• His wife Kathy died on October 16, 1990, ten days after the birth of their daughter Kimberly.
• Kerr is the owner of Tim Kerr's Sotheby's International Realty in Avalon, New Jersey.