"When I was offered the position, I'd always had aspirations of staying involved in hockey once I did decide to retire," Stewart said Monday. "With a prestigious organization like the Flyers, and having my relationship with the management there over my career, I think it's going to be a great fit."
The 32-year-old played for seven teams during 11 NHL seasons. He had one assist in 16 games for the Flyers this season but was not on their roster for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
But the impact Stewart made on his teammates during his time with them clearly was significant; Flyers forwards James van Riemsdyk and Scott Laughton
each said they called Stewart, who is Black
, in the hours after their 4-3 overtime win against the New York Islanders in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Second Round on Aug. 26 seeking his advice on the best way forward in the wake of NBA players boycotting playoff games to protest the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, by a police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin, three days earlier.
"The Flyers are excited to have Chris Stewart join our team in a hockey operations role after an excellent career in the NHL," Philadelphia general manager Chuck Fletcher said. "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."
Stewart was a first-round pick (No. 18) by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2006 NHL Draft. He set NHL career highs in goals (28), assists (36) and points (64) with the Avalanche in 2009-10.
The forward went on to play with the St. Louis Blues, Buffalo Sabres, Minnesota Wild, Anaheim Ducks, Calgary Flames and Flyers. He scored 322 points (160 goals, 162 assists) in 668 regular-season games and 11 points (six goals, five assists) in 39 playoff games.
Stewart's older brother, Anthony Stewart, 35, played in the NHL and was a first-round pick (No. 25) by the Florida Panthers in the 2003 Draft. A forward, he scored 71 points (27 goals, 44 assists) in 262 games with the Panthers, Atlanta Thrashers and Carolina Hurricanes.
