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.
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.
Hockey Hall of Fame centre 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.
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.
In addition, Kerr previously owned the Pensacola Ice Flyers and part-owner of the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs,[4] teams of the Southern Professional Hockey League.