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Laperriere joins Flyers' front office

Ian Laperriere has been named Flyers director of player development, general manager Paul Holmgren said Friday.

"We are pleased to add Ian to our staff as director of player development," Holmgren said. "Ian will work closely with all of our young prospects in the system from skill development to fitness to nutrition. We feel that Ian's experiences and enthusiasm for life and the game of hockey make him the perfect man for this important role."

Laperriere, 38, recently retired after playing 16 seasons in the NHL. He signed with the Flyers as a free agent for the 2009-10 season and played all 82 regular-season games and 13 playoff games.

"It's a job that suits me well," Laperriere said. "It's one of those jobs that you need a relationship with the young guys and you need to have some experience, and I think I have both. I've always been able to relate well with anybody, from 18 year old kids to 40-year-old veterans – it's always been one of my strengths, so I'm going to use that with these young guys. I'll do the best I can to help all our prospects be successful. It's a challenge for me and I'm looking forward to it."

Laperriere missed the last two seasons due to after-effects of an injury suffered in the first round of the 2010 playofffs. He has remained with the Flyers.

In other Flyers news, the team announced that former coach Terry Murray is the new head coach of the AHL Adirondack Phantoms. Murray, 61, was the head coach of the Los Angeles Kings from 2008 until he was replaced in December 2011.

"I really appreciate the opportunity to come back to the Flyers organization and I'm really looking forward to the challenge that's out there of coaching the Phantoms," Murray said. "The youth playing down in the American Hockey League is a real important part of the organization. I'm looking forward to the challenge of getting back into the playoffs and helping these young players develop and become NHL players as quickly as possible."

This is Murray's third coaching stint with the Flyers' organization. He was head coach from 1994-97 and led the Flyers to the 1997 Stanley Cup final. He also was an assistant coach from 2003-08.

Murray was an NHL defenseman from 1972-82, playing 302 games. He played 115 games for the Flyers and also played for the California Golden Seals, Detroit Red Wings and Washington Capitals.