Flyers announce new front office dynamic, aim to rebuild ‘winning tradition’ originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Flyers made it official Thursday morning, naming Keith Jones their president of hockey operations and removing the interim label from Danny Briere’s general manager title.
The organization has called it a new era, announcing its reworked dynamic for the front office.
In the press release from the Flyers, the team stated:
“The president of hockey operations will lead the strategic direction for all aspects of the hockey operations department while collaborating on business goals. The general manager is responsible for all hockey decisions as it pertains to signings, trades and draft picks as well as overseeing scouting, player development, roster construction and more. Head coach John Tortorella will remain boss of the bench and like most head coaches in the NHL, he’ll provide input on various management topics.”
The Flyers are rebuilding and doing so with a new face at the top in Dan Hilferty, who has succeeded Dave Scott as Comcast Spectacor chairman and CEO and governor of the Flyers.
The team will feature a five-person, “unified leadership group,” as it stated in the release. The group will consist of Hilferty, Jones, Briere, president and CEO of Spectacor Sports & Entertainment Valerie Camillo and head coach John Tortorella.
“Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to put together collaborative teams that have achieved great things,” Hilferty said in a statement. “This is about more than simply hiring a president of hockey operations and general manager. We are thoughtfully constructing a leadership team. Our top priority was to find leaders who bring unique skill sets, experience and temperament to maximize the group’s potential.
“With this new Flyers leadership in place, we are committed to a collaborative approach on and off the ice. The five leaders of the business and hockey operations will work in lockstep across all areas to restore the winning tradition of Flyers hockey.”
The Flyers will introduce Jones and Briere in an 11:30 am ET press conference Friday at the Wells Fargo Center. Hilferty, Camillo and Tortorella will be alongside them.
The hiring of Jones is likely surprising to some considering the 54-year-old has worked exclusively in broadcasting following his playing days. He had spent the last 17 seasons as a color commentator for the team’s television broadcast on Comcast SportsNet/NBC Sports Philadelphia. He also served NBC Sports and Turner Sports for national broadcasts.
Jones was a seventh-round draft pick of the Capitals in 1988 and had a nine-year NHL career. His final three seasons were played in a Flyers jersey from 1998 to 2000. He finished his career with 117 goals and 258 points over 491 games.
“I would like to thank Dan Hilferty for this opportunity and confidence in me,” Jones said in a statement. “Today is one of the most humble and proudest days of my life. To be able to lead this team back to the winning tradition that everyone knows it can, and should be, is a true honor and one that I do not take lightly.
“I consider the Philadelphia Flyers organization the gold standard of the NHL and professional sports. I’ve seen how this city and these fans can rally around their team and there is nothing that compares to that feeling. With this leadership group in place, I am beyond excited and fully confident that we are on the right path and the results will come.”
(More coming…)
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