PHILADELPHIA – Patrick Sharp’s NHL career has come full circle.
The retired Thunder Bay forward, who has spent the past five seasons in the broadcast booth, on Tuesday was hired by the Philadelphia Flyers as a special advisor to hockey operations.
Team president of hockey operations Keith Jones said the three-time Stanley Cup champion’s knowledge of and experience in the game will be an asset to the Flyers, a team that hasn’t made the NHL postseason since 2019-20 and just twice since 2016.
"In adding Patrick Sharp to our group, we are gaining an individual who has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to building an environment of winning at all levels," Jones said in a release.
"Patrick knows what it takes to win, he understands how to convey that to our players and is a relationship maker. He will be a vital component as we continue to build the foundation of the Philadelphia Flyers."
General manager Daniel Briere called the 41-year-old Sharp an asset to the organization.
"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 played his junior hockey with the Thunder Bay Flyers, was drafted by Philadelphia in the third round of the 2001 draft and spent parts of three seasons with the team before being dealt to Chicago in 2005-06.
He won Cups with the Blackhawks in 2010, 2013 and 2015 and spent two seasons with Dallas before returning to the Windy City for a final season with Chicago in 2017-18. He retired with 287 goals and 620 points in 939 NHL games, adding 47 goals and 87 points in 142 playoff games.
