Flyers hire former player, three-time Stanley Cup champ Patrick Sharp as a special adviser

Sharp, 41, played two-plus seasons for the Flyers but is best known for his time with the Chicago Blackhawks where he blossomed as a goal scorer and won three championships.

Patrick Sharp, who played for the Flyers and later won a Stanley Cup against them, has been named special adviser to hockey operations with the team.Read moreKathy Willens / ASSOCIATED PRESS

by Olivia Reiner

Published June 13, 2023, 1:16 p.m. ET

While the Flyers are embarking upon a rebuilding project on the ice, their front office is continuing to get a revamp, too.

The Flyers announced Tuesday that they have hired 15-year NHL veteran Patrick Sharp as special adviser to hockey operations. Sharp, 41, will report directly to general manager Danny Brière and will be involved with all aspects of the department, namely player development with prospects.

“I am proud to announce the addition of Patrick Sharp to our hockey operations team,” Brière said in a news release. “Patrick is a well-established veteran on and off the ice and his incomparable hockey knowledge will be a valuable asset to our organization and young prospects.”

Sharp, who hails from Winnipeg, Manitoba, spent roughly 2½ seasons with the Flyers at the beginning of his career from 2002-05. The Flyers selected him in the third round of the 2001 draft. In 66 games, Sharp collected 10 goals and five assists. He also played 163 games with the Flyers’ AHL affiliate, the Philadelphia (now Lehigh Valley) Phantoms, tallying 52 goals and 62 assists. He won the Calder Cup with the Phantoms in 2005 during the NHL’s lockout.

After his stint with the Flyers, Sharp went on to win three Stanley Cups with the Chicago Blackhawks (2010, 2013, 2015). Sharp’s Blackhawks defeated the Flyers in six games in the 2010 Stanley Cup Final. He spent 11 seasons with the Blackhawks (749 games, 249 goals, 283 assists) and two with the Dallas Stars (124 games, 28 goals, 45 assists). Sharp announced his retirement following his 2017-18 season with the Blackhawks.

Sharp had six 25-plus-goal seasons, each of which came with the Blackhawks. He participated in the 2011 All-Star Game and earned MVP honors. Sharp also competed at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, for Canada, scoring one goal in five games to help the team to a gold medal.

After his retirement, Sharp joined NBC Sports and NBC Sports Chicago in studio and analyst roles covering the NHL. Sharp and president of hockey operations Keith Jones have crossed paths throughout their broadcasting careers, first at NBC Sports and then at Turner Sports.

The former winger has also been an adviser to the University of Vermont’s coaching staff since September 2021. He played for Vermont from 2000-02 for two seasons before starting his pro career.

The news of Sharp’s hiring comes one day after The Inquirer reported that Valerie Camillo will leave her role as president and CEO of Spectacor Sports and Entertainment, effective July 1. Last month, the Flyers hired Jones as their president of hockey operations and removed the interim tag from Brière. In March, former Flyers chairman and governor Dave Scott announced his retirement and Dan Hilferty assumed his responsibilities.