Sinisalo, longtime Flyers player and scout, dies at 58

Ilkka Sinisalo, a consistent Flyers forward who played in two Stanley Cup finals series with them in the 1980s, died Wednesday in his native Finland. Sinisalo was 58 and reportedly had been treated for prostrate cancer in recent years.

Sinisalo was a 23-year-old rookie when he signed with the Flyers as a free agent in 1981, after spending four seasons with HIFK Helsinki. He scored his first goal on a penalty shot in a win over Pittsburgh at the Spectrum, but went on to be a consistent two-way forward with a Flyers team that was one of the best in the NHL for a string of seasons, losing twice to a Hall of Fameladen Edmonton club in championships series.

Sinisalo was a plus-player for all nine of his Flyers seasons (1981-82 to 1989-90). He scored 199 goals and 408 points in 526 regular season games. That’s sixth all-time among right wings in club history.

He would go on to serve as a European scout in recent years with the Flyers.

“Ilkka was a true friend and loyal member of the Flyers,” team president Paul Holmgren said. “He gave a great deal of his time, effort and talents to the organization in several capacities as a player and long-time scout, to bring this franchise success on and off the ice. Most important to all that knew him, he was a great person, a loving husband, father and grandfather. His presence and friendship will be deeply missed by all that knew him.”

Sinisalo signed with Minnesota as a free agent in 1990, then was dealt to the Los Angeles Kings at the trade deadline in March 1991. He played one more season with the Kings, then returned to Finland and played four more years and served as a general manager in Finland’s top pro league.

He moved into scouting San Jose in 1998.

“Ilkka was a very good player, a great teammate, but most importantly an outstanding person and a terrific friend to us all,” Flyers general manager Ron Hextall said of his longtime teammate. “We’ve all had the pleasure to work with him for many years and he will be missed.” with