Legion of Doom (ice hockey)
Encyclopedia
The Legion of Doom was a forward
line for the Philadelphia Flyers
who played together between 1995 and 1997 comprising center
Eric Lindros
, left winger
John LeClair
and right winger Mikael Renberg
. They were given this name not only for their offensive
play, but also their ability to dominate games physically. The name was coined by journeyman center Jim Montgomery
and popularized by Flyers announcer Gene Hart.
and general manager Russ Farwell
. They were succeeded by Terry Murray
and Bobby Clarke
, respectively. Mark Recchi
, Lindros, and Brent Fedyk
had formed the productive "Crazy Eights" that year. Renberg split his time playing LW with Lindros and right wing with Rod Brind'Amour
.
was traded to Philadelphia from the Montreal Canadiens
, along with Eric Desjardins
and Gilbert Dionne
, in exchange for Mark Recchi
. Renberg was moved from Rod Brind'Amour
's left wing and placed on Lindros' right wing. Murray then placed LeClair as the left wing to form the trio. LeClair was expected to use his physical prowess to make room for Lindros, and went on to exceed all expectations as LeClair's scoring totals jumped dramatically compared with his time with the Canadiens.
The line registered its first point on Saturday, February 11, 1995, in a game against the New Jersey Devils
at Meadowlands Sports Complex. The line made an immediate impact, as it helped the Flyers defeat the Devils 3–1. Before the formation of the line, the Flyers had struggled out of the gate, going only 3–7–1 through their first 11 games while being outscored 34–22. However, in their final 37 games (including the one on February 11 against the Devils), the Flyers went 25–9–3 and outscored their opponents 128–98 enroute to capturing the Atlantic Division title and an appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Legion went on to score 80 goals and collect 96 assists that season for Philadelphia. Eric Lindros, with a total of 70 points, tied Jaromir Jagr
for the scoring lead that season, but the Art Ross Memorial Trophy was given to Jagr as he had more goals. Lindros however, was named the league MVP by winning the Hart Memorial Trophy
and the Lester B. Pearson Award
. Lindros and LeClair both earned NHL First-Team All-Star honours.
They also led the Philadelphia Flyers to the 1997 Stanley Cup Finals
, collecting 26 goals and 32 assists in their play-off run, as they beat the Pittsburgh Penguins
, Buffalo Sabres
, and New York Rangers
in five games each.
However, they were upset by the Detroit Red Wings
, who swept them 4 games to none. Detroit coach Scotty Bowman
surprised Flyers coach Terry Murray
by using the finesse-oriented defense pairing of Nicklas Lidstrom
and Larry Murphy, rather than the rugged Vladimir Konstantinov
, against the Legion of Doom. Lidstrom and Murphy's puckhandling abilities helped them neutralize Philadelphia's vaunted forechecking. LeClair and Lindros only scored one goal each during the Finals series; LeClair scored the Flyers' only goal as they lost Game Three 6-1, while Lindros finally managed to put the puck in the net during the dying seconds of Game Four to cut the Wings' lead to 2-1.
's contract as head coach was not renewed due to the "choking" incident, though he remained with the Flyers as a pro scout and later as an assistant coach.
The line would be broken up in the 1997 off-season, as Philadelphia dealt Renberg in exchange for Chris Gratton
. Lindros and LeClair still played on the same line for the next three seasons, with players such as Keith Jones at right-wing. Later Renberg would return to Philadelphia for exactly the same trade which would send Gratton back to the Tampa Bay Lightning
. Although Renberg returned, the original Legion of Doom did not, for Renberg could never make it past the third forward line.
Mark Recchi
returned to the Flyers midway through the 1998–99 season and again became the team's leading scorer. Lindros missed the end of the 1999–2000 season with a concussion, so the Flyers traded for Keith Primeau
who played a physical forward role similar to Lindros, as Lindros only returned at the end of the playoffs. That turned out to be his last-ever game with the Flyers, as he held out the following season over a contract dispute and he was sent to the New York Rangers
for 2001–02. John LeClair was bought out by the Flyers following the 2004–05 NHL lockout and signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins
.
Forward (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, a forward is a player position on the ice whose primary responsibility is to score goals. Generally, the forwards try to stay in three different lanes, also known as thirds, of the ice going from goal to goal. It is not mandatory however, to stay in a lane. Staying in a lane aids in...
line for the Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
who played together between 1995 and 1997 comprising center
Centre (ice hockey)
The centre in ice hockey is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play is the middle of the ice, away from the side boards. Centres have more flexibility in their positioning and are expected to cover more ice surface than any other player...
Eric Lindros
Eric Lindros
Eric Bryan Lindros is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. Lindros played junior hockey in the OHL for the Oshawa Generals prior to being selected first overall in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft by the Quebec Nordiques...
, left winger
Winger (ice hockey)
Winger, in the game of hockey, is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. They typically work by flanking the centre forward. Originally the name was given to forward players who went up and down the sides of the rink...
John LeClair
John LeClair
John Clark LeClair is an American former professional ice hockey left winger who played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers, and Pittsburgh Penguins...
and right winger Mikael Renberg
Mikael Renberg
Mikael Renberg is a retired Swedish professional ice hockey player, last playing for Skellefteå AIK in Elitserien. He spent ten seasons in the National Hockey League and eight in the Swedish Elitserien.-Playing career:...
. They were given this name not only for their offensive
Offense (sports)
In sports, offense or offence , also known as attack, is the action of attacking or engaging an opposing team with the objective of scoring points or goals...
play, but also their ability to dominate games physically. The name was coined by journeyman center Jim Montgomery
Jim Montgomery (ice hockey)
Jim Montgomery is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played in the National Hockey League with the St...
and popularized by Flyers announcer Gene Hart.
Background
Despite a strong start to the 1993-94 season, and emergent talents such as Lindros and Renberg, the Flyers fell apart in the second half of the year and narrowly missed the playoffs, the fifth consecutive time that the club didn't reach the postseason. This led to the firing of head coach Terry SimpsonTerry Simpson
Terry Simpson is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player and a former NHL head coach. He only played one season of professional hockey in 1964–65 for the Jacksonville Rockets of the EHL...
and general manager Russ Farwell
Russ Farwell
Russ Farwell is the owner, governor, and general manager of the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League. He is most well known for his stint as general manager of the Philadelphia Flyers from 1990 to 1994, during which he made a blockbuster trade with the Quebec Nordiques to acquire the...
. They were succeeded by Terry Murray
Terry Murray
Terry Rodney Murray is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player, and current head coach of the NHL's Los Angeles Kings...
and Bobby Clarke
Bobby Clarke
Robert Earle Clarke, OC , better known as Bobby Clarke or, in later life, Bob Clarke, is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played his entire National Hockey League career with the Philadelphia Flyers and is currently an executive with the team...
, respectively. Mark Recchi
Mark Recchi
Mark Louis Recchi is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played 22 years in the National Hockey League , most notably for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens...
, Lindros, and Brent Fedyk
Brent Fedyk
Brent Fedyk is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey right winger. He was drafted in the first round, 8th overall, by the Detroit Red Wings in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft....
had formed the productive "Crazy Eights" that year. Renberg split his time playing LW with Lindros and right wing with Rod Brind'Amour
Rod Brind'Amour
Roderic Jean Brind'Amour is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League for the St. Louis Blues, Philadelphia Flyers and Carolina Hurricanes. He captained the Hurricanes to the franchise's first Stanley Cup championship in...
.
The Legion of Doom
The line was formed in the lockout shortened 1994–95 season when John LeClairJohn LeClair
John Clark LeClair is an American former professional ice hockey left winger who played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers, and Pittsburgh Penguins...
was traded to Philadelphia from the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
, along with Eric Desjardins
Eric Desjardins
Éric Desjardins is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played 17 seasons in the National Hockey League with the Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers. He won the Stanley Cup with Montreal in 1993 and headlined the Flyers defence for over a decade...
and Gilbert Dionne
Gilbert Dionne
Gilbert Dionne is a retired professional ice hockey left winger who played six seasons in the National Hockey League from 1990–91 until 1995–96. He is the younger brother of Hockey Hall of Famer Marcel Dionne, who is nineteen years his senior.Dionne was drafted 81st overall by the Montreal...
, in exchange for Mark Recchi
Mark Recchi
Mark Louis Recchi is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played 22 years in the National Hockey League , most notably for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens...
. Renberg was moved from Rod Brind'Amour
Rod Brind'Amour
Roderic Jean Brind'Amour is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League for the St. Louis Blues, Philadelphia Flyers and Carolina Hurricanes. He captained the Hurricanes to the franchise's first Stanley Cup championship in...
's left wing and placed on Lindros' right wing. Murray then placed LeClair as the left wing to form the trio. LeClair was expected to use his physical prowess to make room for Lindros, and went on to exceed all expectations as LeClair's scoring totals jumped dramatically compared with his time with the Canadiens.
The line registered its first point on Saturday, February 11, 1995, in a game against the New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
at Meadowlands Sports Complex. The line made an immediate impact, as it helped the Flyers defeat the Devils 3–1. Before the formation of the line, the Flyers had struggled out of the gate, going only 3–7–1 through their first 11 games while being outscored 34–22. However, in their final 37 games (including the one on February 11 against the Devils), the Flyers went 25–9–3 and outscored their opponents 128–98 enroute to capturing the Atlantic Division title and an appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Legion went on to score 80 goals and collect 96 assists that season for Philadelphia. Eric Lindros, with a total of 70 points, tied Jaromir Jagr
Jaromir Jagr
Jaromír Jágr is a Czech professional ice hockey right winger who plays for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League . Jágr formerly played with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, and New York Rangers, serving as captain of the Penguins and the Rangers...
for the scoring lead that season, but the Art Ross Memorial Trophy was given to Jagr as he had more goals. Lindros however, was named the league MVP by winning the Hart Memorial Trophy
Hart Memorial Trophy
The Hart Memorial Trophy, originally known as the Hart Trophy, the "oldest and most prestigious individual award in hockey", is awarded annually to the "player adjudged most valuable to his team" in the National Hockey League . The Hart Memorial Trophy has been awarded 86 times to 53 different...
and the Lester B. Pearson Award
Lester B. Pearson Award
The Ted Lindsay Award, formerly known as the Lester B. Pearson Award, is awarded annually to the National Hockey League's most outstanding player in the regular season as judged by the members of the NHL Players Association. It has been awarded 40 times to 23 different players since its beginnings...
. Lindros and LeClair both earned NHL First-Team All-Star honours.
1995-96 Season
The line stayed together for the 1995–96 season, which would turn out to be their most productive, as they scored 121 goals and picked up 134 assists.1997 Stanley Cup Final
Their last season together was 1996–97, where they scored 104 goals and collected 131 assists. The Legion's offensive production was down due to injuries to Renberg.They also led the Philadelphia Flyers to the 1997 Stanley Cup Finals
1997 Stanley Cup Finals
The 1997 Stanley Cup Final NHL championship series was contested by the Detroit Red Wings and the Philadelphia Flyers. Detroit was in the Final for the second time in three years while the Flyers were making their first appearance since the 1987 Final...
, collecting 26 goals and 32 assists in their play-off run, as they beat the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
, Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
, and New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
in five games each.
However, they were upset by the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
, who swept them 4 games to none. Detroit coach Scotty Bowman
Scotty Bowman
William Scott "Scotty" Bowman is a retired National Hockey League head coach. He holds the record for most wins in league history, with 1,244 wins in the regular season and 223 in the Stanley Cup playoffs. He coached the St. Louis Blues, Montreal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, and...
surprised Flyers coach Terry Murray
Terry Murray
Terry Rodney Murray is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player, and current head coach of the NHL's Los Angeles Kings...
by using the finesse-oriented defense pairing of Nicklas Lidstrom
Nicklas Lidström
Nicklas Erik Lidström is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenseman who has played his entire National Hockey League career with the Detroit Red Wings, and is their captain...
and Larry Murphy, rather than the rugged Vladimir Konstantinov
Vladimir Konstantinov
Vladimir Nikolaevich Konstantinov is a Russian retired professional ice hockey player who played his entire National Hockey League career with the Detroit Red Wings. Previously, he had played for Soviet club CSKA Moscow...
, against the Legion of Doom. Lidstrom and Murphy's puckhandling abilities helped them neutralize Philadelphia's vaunted forechecking. LeClair and Lindros only scored one goal each during the Finals series; LeClair scored the Flyers' only goal as they lost Game Three 6-1, while Lindros finally managed to put the puck in the net during the dying seconds of Game Four to cut the Wings' lead to 2-1.
Breakup
Terry MurrayTerry Murray
Terry Rodney Murray is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player, and current head coach of the NHL's Los Angeles Kings...
's contract as head coach was not renewed due to the "choking" incident, though he remained with the Flyers as a pro scout and later as an assistant coach.
The line would be broken up in the 1997 off-season, as Philadelphia dealt Renberg in exchange for Chris Gratton
Chris Gratton
Christopher A. Gratton is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who last played with the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League...
. Lindros and LeClair still played on the same line for the next three seasons, with players such as Keith Jones at right-wing. Later Renberg would return to Philadelphia for exactly the same trade which would send Gratton back to the Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
. Although Renberg returned, the original Legion of Doom did not, for Renberg could never make it past the third forward line.
Mark Recchi
Mark Recchi
Mark Louis Recchi is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played 22 years in the National Hockey League , most notably for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens...
returned to the Flyers midway through the 1998–99 season and again became the team's leading scorer. Lindros missed the end of the 1999–2000 season with a concussion, so the Flyers traded for Keith Primeau
Keith Primeau
Keith Primeau is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Red Wings, Hartford Whalers, Carolina Hurricanes and Philadelphia Flyers...
who played a physical forward role similar to Lindros, as Lindros only returned at the end of the playoffs. That turned out to be his last-ever game with the Flyers, as he held out the following season over a contract dispute and he was sent to the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
for 2001–02. John LeClair was bought out by the Flyers following the 2004–05 NHL lockout and signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
.
Regular season
| John LeClair John LeClair John Clark LeClair is an American former professional ice hockey left winger who played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers, and Pittsburgh Penguins... |
Eric Lindros Eric Lindros Eric Bryan Lindros is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. Lindros played junior hockey in the OHL for the Oshawa Generals prior to being selected first overall in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft by the Quebec Nordiques... |
Mikael Renberg Mikael Renberg Mikael Renberg is a retired Swedish professional ice hockey player, last playing for Skellefteå AIK in Elitserien. He spent ten seasons in the National Hockey League and eight in the Swedish Elitserien.-Playing career:... |
Combined Totals | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 37 | 25 | 24 | 49 | 20 | 46 | 29 | 41 | 70 | 60 | 47 | 26 | 31 | 57 | 20 | 130 | 80 | 96 | 176 | 100 | |
| 82 | 51 | 46 | 97 | 64 | 73 | 47 | 68 | 115 | 163 | 51 | 23 | 20 | 43 | 45 | 206 | 121 | 134 | 255 | 272 | |
| 82 | 50 | 47 | 97 | 58 | 52 | 32 | 47 | 79 | 136 | 77 | 22 | 37 | 59 | 65 | 211 | 104 | 131 | 235 | 259 | |
| Totals | 201 | 126 | 117 | 243 | 142 | 171 | 108 | 156 | 264 | 359 | 175 | 71 | 88 | 159 | 130 | 547 | 305 | 361 | 666 | 631 |
Playoffs
| John LeClair John LeClair John Clark LeClair is an American former professional ice hockey left winger who played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers, and Pittsburgh Penguins... |
Eric Lindros Eric Lindros Eric Bryan Lindros is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. Lindros played junior hockey in the OHL for the Oshawa Generals prior to being selected first overall in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft by the Quebec Nordiques... |
Mikael Renberg Mikael Renberg Mikael Renberg is a retired Swedish professional ice hockey player, last playing for Skellefteå AIK in Elitserien. He spent ten seasons in the National Hockey League and eight in the Swedish Elitserien.-Playing career:... |
Combined Totals | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1994–95 | 15 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 4 | 12 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 18 | 15 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 6 | 42 | 15 | 25 | 40 | 28 |
| 1995–96 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 6 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 43 | 11 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 14 | 34 | 15 | 17 | 32 | 63 |
| 1996–97 | 19 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 10 | 19 | 12 | 14 | 26 | 40 | 18 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 4 | 56 | 26 | 32 | 58 | 54 |
| Totals | 45 | 20 | 24 | 44 | 20 | 43 | 22 | 31 | 53 | 101 | 44 | 14 | 19 | 33 | 24 | 132 | 56 | 74 | 130 | 145 |