PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia Flyers hired a familiar face, Ron Hextall, as assistant general manager and director of hockey operations.

Philadelphia General Manager Paul Holmgren made the announcement on Monday, as the Flyers welcomed back one of the most successful goaltenders in franchise history.

Hextall, 49, played 11 seasons for the Flyers, appearing in 489 regular-season games across three different stints with the team (1986-92, 1994-95 and 1998-99). He went 240-172-58 and posted a 2.91 goals-against average. His 45 playoff wins are the most in Flyers history.

Hextall spent the last seven seasons with the Los Angeles Kings as vice president and assistant general manager. The Kings won the Stanley Cup in 2012.

“Ron has a wealth of experience in the front office in various capacities,” Holmgren said. “(He) will be a valuable addition to our staff.”

Prior to joining the Kings, Hextall spent seven seasons with the Flyers in various roles, including pro scout.

As a rookie in 1986-87, Hextall went 37-21-6, and led the NHL in games (66) and minutes played (3,799). He was one of the league’s best stickhandling goaltenders, and still holds the franchise record for most points by a goaltender in one season (8, 1988-89).

The Flyers went 23-22-3 last season, for 49 points, but failed to make the postseason.

WILD: Jon Landry, who played at Bowdoin from 2002-06, signed a one-year, two-way contract with Minnesota.

Landry, a defenseman, recorded eight goals and 25 assists in 72 games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the New York Islanders’ AHL affiliate, last season.

BLUE JACKETS: Columbus signed defenseman David Savard to a one-year, two-way contract.

A third-round choice of the Blue Jackets in 2009, Savard, 22, has appeared in 35 games, registering 10 points and 16 penalty minutes for Columbus.

CANADIENS: Forward Blake Geoffrion is retiring from the NHL at age 25 due to lingering effects of a skull fracture and concussion suffered while playing for Montreal’s AHL affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs, in November.

A second-round draft pick by Nashville in 2006, Geoffrion had eight goals and five assists in 55 NHL games. He also is the grandson of former Canadiens star Bernie Geoffrion and great-grandson of another Montreal standout, Howie Morenz.

HURRICANES: Carolina signed first-round draft pick Elias Lindholm to a three-year, entry-level contract.

The 18-year-old forward had 11 goals and 19 assists last season in the Swedish Elite League.

ISLANDERS: Restricted free-agent forward Josh Bailey signed a five-year, $16.5 million deal.

In five seasons, Bailey has 58 goals and 81 assists in 329 regular-season games.

 

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