Chris Stewart joins Flyers as player development coach

Philadelphia Flyers' Chris Stewart. (Larry MacDougal/CP)

Fresh off announcing his retirement from the NHL, it didn't take long for Chris Stewart to land his next opportunity.

The Toronto native will be joining the Philadelphia Flyers as a player development coach, the club announced Monday.

Stewart finished his career in Philadelphia, suiting up for 16 regular season games for the club in 2019-20. That stint came after 11 years in the big leagues in which Stwart also suited up for the Calgary Flames, St. Louis Blues, Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild, Buffalo Sabres and Anaheim Ducks.

His finest campaign came as a member of the Avalanche back in 2009-10, wherein Stewart put up 28 goals and 64 points, leading the team in the first of those categories.

"The Flyers are excited to have Chris Stewart join our team in a hockey operations role after an excellent career in the NHL," Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher said, via a release. "I've known Chris for a long time and have admired the way he plays the game, but also how he conducts himself off the ice as a true professional and leader in the locker room. He will be a valuable asset to help mentor our young players and shape their future as Flyers."

Fletcher and Stewart have a long relationship in the game, the GM acquiring Stewart on three separate occasions over the years -- via trade to bring him to Minnesota in 2015, via free agency to bring him back to the Wild again in 2016, and via a PTO to bring him to Philadelphia in 2019, after which the winger earned a contract with the club.

"I'm looking forward to starting a new chapter," Stewart said, via a release, of his new role. "The Flyers are a first class organization with a lot of people I am eager to learn from. I intend to use my unique experience over my 13-year professional career to help younger players achieve their ultimate goal."

An accomplished winger on the ice, Stewart has also long been a leader off it. In June, the 32-year-old was among the group of current and former NHLers who founded the Hockey Diversity Alliance, which continues to push for the eradication of systemic racism and intolerance in hockey.

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