Playing career

Kerr was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Philadelphia Flyers in 1980. Though initially a winger with hands that could bruise an opponent's face as well as beat an opposing goaltender, it took three seasons before he staked his reputation as a lethal sniper. Kerr missed the majority of the 1982-83 season with knee issues and a broken leg, but turned things around starting in 1983-84. That's when he began his team-record run of four consecutive 50-goal campaigns, in the process setting the NHL single-season record for power-play goals with 34 in the 1985-86 season.

During the first round of the '85 playoffs, against the New York Rangers, Kerr set a still-standing NHL single-game record by scoring four goals in a span of 8:16 in the second period of an eventual 6-5 victory at Madison Square Garden which enabled Philadelphia to sweep the best-of-five series. The next season was particularly interesting, in that in September 1985 he was hospitalized with aseptic meningitis at the outset, but recovered sufficiently to set a career best of 58 goals. The following year, Kerr again victimized NHL goaltenders for 58 goals, finishing second in the NHL to Wayne Gretzky.

Kerr was an almost unmovable presence in the slot during his prime. Hockey Hall of Fame center and New York Islanders star Bryan Trottier once joked that the only way to stop Kerr was to wrap chains around his arms and legs. But Trottier retracted that statement almost immediately by saying that that still probably would not stop him.

However, 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. Additional personal tragedy struck and provided a somber end to his Flyers tenure. On October 16, 1990, his wife, Kathy, died at the age of 30 due to a fast-spreading infection, ten days after the birth of their first child, a daughter named Kimberly.

Kerr finished his playing career 10th all-time in goals per game (minimum 500 games played) with 370 goals in 655 NHL games.

Post-playing career

Kerr is the owner of Tim Kerr's Powerplay Realty in Avalon, New Jersey, which sells and rents homes in both Avalon and Stone Harbor, New Jersey. In addition, Kerr owns the Pensacola Ice Flyers and part-owner of the Mississippi Surge, teams of the Southern Professional Hockey League. He maintains homes in Avalon, near his business, and Moorestown Township, New Jersey with his wife, two daughters and three sons.

Awards and honours

• Named to the NHL Second All-Star Team (1987)
• Awarded the Bill Masterton Trophy (1989)
• Played in the NHL All-Star Game (1984, 1985, 1986)

NHL Records

• Holds single-season record for most power-play goals (34 in 1985-86)
• Holds playoff record for most power-play goals in a period: (3)
• Holds playoff record for fastest 4-goals in a game: (8:16)
• Shares playoff record for most goals in a period (4 on April 13, 1985)
• Shares playoff record for most points in one period: (4)
• Shares NHL Playoff record for most goals by a player not to make stanley cup finals (14)

Team Records

• Holds Philadelphia Flyers team record for most 50-goal seasons (4)

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1976-77	Windsor Spitfires	OMJHL		9	2	4	6	7		3	0	0	0	0
1977-78	Kingston Canadians	OMJHL		67	14	25	39	33		5	0	0	0	0
1978-79	Kingston Canadians	OMJHL		57	17	25	42	27		6	1	1	2	2
1979-80	Kingston Canadians	OMJHL		63	40	33	73	39		3	0	1	1	16
1979-80	Maine Mariners	AHL		7	2	4	6	2		—	—	—	—	—
1980-81	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		68	22	23	45	84		10	1	3	4	2
1981-82	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		61	21	30	51	138		4	0	2	2	2
1982-83	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		24	11	8	19	6		2	2	0	2	0
1983-84	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		79	54	39	93	29		3	0	0	0	0
1984-85	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		74	54	44	98	57		12	10	4	14	13
1985-86	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		76	58	26	84	79		5	3	3	6	8
1986-87	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		75	58	37	95	57		12	8	5	13	2
1987-88	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		8	3	2	5	12		6	1	3	4	4
1988-89	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		69	48	40	88	73		19	14	11	25	27
1989-90	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		40	24	24	48	34		—	—	—	—	—
1990-91	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL		27	10	14	24	8		—	—	—	—	—
1991-92	New York Rangers	NHL		32	7	11	18	12		8	1	0	1	0
1992-93	Hartford Whalers	NHL		22	0	6	6	7		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				655	370	304	674	596		81	40	31	71	58

[ Source: Wikipedia ]