Philly Front Office

You mean you don’t know? Pat Falloon was the first ever pick by the San Jose Sharks back in 1991, but no one cares about that. Instead, let’s take a look at how his hockey life has intersected with the Flyers over the years.

It all starts in the 1991 NHL Draft. The San Jose Sharks were drafting 2nd overall in 1991 as an expansion franchise. The team with the worst record the previous year, the Quebec Nordiques were drafting first overall. Lucky for them, a generational star happened to be at the top of that year’s draft boards. Quebec was taking Eric Lindros to be their future centerpiece. Unlucky for them, Lindros made it clear before the draft that if Quebec picked him, he would never sign with the team. He made good on that promise.

San Jose selected Pat Falloon #2. You have to wonder how history would have been different had Quebec not drafted Lindros anyway. Would Lindros have signed with the Sharks at #2? Unfortunately for San Jose, Pat Falloon was no Eric Lindros. More unfortunately, he was no Scott Niedermayer or Peter Forsberg either. Both became Hall of Famers after being selected 3rd (Devils) and 6th (Flyers) that year. Yes, the Sharks drafted Faloon between a trio of all-timers, a regular Darko Milicic between Lebron, Carmelo, Wade, and Bosh.

The next season, Lindros forced his way off of the Nordiques in a block buster trade (and controversy) that brought him to the Flyers in exchange for Peter Forsberg and a bunch more. Forsberg would end up winning a Stanley Cup for the team, but only after they moved to Colorado. Lindros would end up having a great but injury shortened career with the Flyers including playing in one Stanley Cup Final, but never winning.

Back to Falloon. After 4 disappointing years in San Jose, guess who made a trade for him? That would be our Philadelphia Flyers. Surely, we didn’t give up too much for him, right? Well, how about the 24th pick in the Draft (and a 4th round pick)? Ok. Would that be something that would come back to haunt the Flyers? OF COURSE! With the 24th pick in the 1996 NHL Draft, the Coyotes would pick future Flyer player and GM, Danny Briere. Wait, how did it come to the Coyotes? San Jose had traded the pick at that year’s trade deadline for Michal Grosek and Darryl Shannon (I do not know who they are).

Danny Briere ended up playing 5 unremarkable seasons in Phoenix before being traded to Buffalo where he really shined. He would eventually sign as a free agent with the Flyers. In 2010, Briere led the Flyers to another Stanley Cup appearance, but lost to Chicago 4-2. He would leave as a player, but come back as the team GM, where he seems to be doing a decent job.

Back again to Falloon. He would skate 2.5 years in Philadelphia and even team with Lindros for a little while. He still wasn’t very good. The Flyers would have to package him along with a 2nd round pick for Alex Daigle who by the looks of his Hockey Reference page, wasn’t very good.

So, Falloon inadvertently (and if you squint real hard) cost the city of Quebec a hockey team, brought Colorado a Stanley Cup, allowed 3 Hall of Famers to thrive in good conditions, and cost the Flyers 3 draft picks including Danny Briere and not including what they gave up to get Lindros and most of the career of Peter Forsberg.

Now you know Pat Falloon, first ever San Jose draft pick and bane of the Flyers.