Flyers name Keith Jones president of hockey operations, Danny Briere general manager

Two months and a day after being named Flyers interim general manager, Danny Brière finally shed the interim tag and gained a partner.

The Flyers announced Thursday that their hiring search for two vacant front-office roles has concluded. They named former Flyer Keith Jones (1998-2000) the new president of hockey operations and another former player in Brière (2007-13) the general manager on a full-time basis.

» READ MORE: Flyers to hire former player Keith Jones as president of hockey operations

The announcement comes three days after the NHL draft lottery determined that the Flyers will pick at No. 7 in June’s draft, and one month before the NHL combine, where important draft evaluations will be made.

Separating the roles of general manager and president of hockey operations creates a new structure in the Flyers’ front office following the March 10 firing of Chuck Fletcher, who acted as general manager and president of hockey operations. In their press release, the Flyers explained what each role will entail.

As general manager, Brière, will be in charge of all hockey decisions such as signings, trades, and draft picks. Brière also will oversee scouting, player development, and roster construction. Meanwhile, Jones will “lead the strategic direction for all aspects of the hockey operations department while collaborating on business goals.”

Brière, who was a two-time All-Star as a player, has never held the GM title in an NHL front office outside of his interim stint over the past few months. Jones has never worked in a hockey front office.

» READ MORE: Danny Brière’s ‘fire for self-improvement’ has prepared him for his dream job with the Flyers

Since retiring, Brière has worked in various capacities throughout the Flyers organization, helping out with everything from scouting to player development to leading Comcast Spectacor’s ECHL team, the Maine Mariners. With the Mariners, Brière ran the day-to-day operations of the organization, serving as president and governor.

Brière was heading toward the business side of hockey before a surprise invitation to interview for the Montreal Canadiens general manager job in 2021-22 changed his course. Since then, he had been striving to become an NHL general manager, initially serving as a special assistant to Fletcher before taking the reins as interim GM in March.

Dan Hilferty, Comcast Spectacor chairman and governor of the Flyers, said Brière will bring a “fresh perspective.”

“After an impressive 17-year NHL career, he understands today’s game, today’s player, and how to make smart hockey decisions as we navigate the future of both,” Hilferty said in a statement. “Danny has proven without a doubt that he is the right person for this job and what we are trying to accomplish.”

Jones has been working as a radio and television broadcaster since 2002. He co-hosted the 94.1 WIP morning show with Angelo Cataldi and has acted as Jim Jackson’s color commentator for NBC Sports Philadelphia. He also covers national games, including this year’s playoffs, for Turner Sports.

Hilferty said Jones was chosen following an “extensive process” conducted by himself; Valerie Camillo, the president and CEO of Spectacor Sports & Entertainment; and assistance from advisory firm Modern Executive Solutions.

“As a former player whose career concluded in Philadelphia, ‘Jonesy’ understands the value of creating chemistry and enabling leadership within a team,” Hilferty said. “He has extensive experience analyzing and evaluating talent, and knows firsthand how important collaboration is on and off ice — a key factor for us moving forward.”

Jones, who thanked Hilferty for the opportunity, described this as 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,” Jones said in the release. “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.”

The start of what the Flyers are dubbing a “new era” came with the hiring of coach John Tortorella last June. The next step was the firing of Fletcher in March, followed by chairman and Flyers governor Dave Scott’s retirement later that month. Hilferty, who already had been named Comcast Spectacor’s CEO, replaced Scott.

Now, the Flyers’ new leadership group includes Hilferty as their governor. Camillo, their president on the business side, is the only one who has been in her role for more than a season. Jones and Brière are next in the hierarchy, followed by Tortorella.

Hilferty said Tortorella set the tone for this new era with his establishment of a “standard” last season. Moving forward, Tortorella will “remain boss of the bench, and like most head coaches in the NHL, he’ll provide input on various management topics.”

When building the front office, Hilferty said they were looking for leaders who “bring unique skill sets, experience, and temperament to maximize the group’s potential.” Collaboration is key to Hilferty.

After the draft lottery, where the Flyers had a small chance of landing a “generational talent” like Connor Bedard, Hilferty reinforced that this is a rebuilding process that will take time.

» READ MORE: Danny Brière discusses rebuild timeline, key veterans’ futures, and more in his exit interview

“Our ultimate goal is to deliver them a championship,” Hilferty said. “Achieving that goal will take time.”

“I have full confidence that both Keith and Danny — together with Coach Tortorella, Valerie, and me — are the right leadership team to guide the Philadelphia Flyers. We are unanimously committed to rebuilding and sustaining a winning culture — and doing it the right way.”

The Flyers will introduce their new president of hockey operations and general manager at 11:30 a.m. Friday. It will be the first time that Hilferty, Camillo, Jones, Brière, and Tortorella address the media together in their respective roles.

» READ MORE: Five players the Flyers could target with the No. 7 overall pick in the NHL draft