Hextall Says Goodbye To NHL

Ron Hextall is retiring from hockey, ending a career in which he led the Philadelphia Flyers to the Stanley Cup 12 years ago when he was the league's best goalie.

The announcement was to come Monday at a news conference at the Flyers' training camp.

The 35-year-old goalie was released by the Flyers this summer after playing backup all season. He was not claimed in the expansion draft and his retirement was expected.

"It would be nice if we could keep him in the organization," general manager Bob Clarke said this summer. "We like Ron a lot. We just feel that it's time for a young goaltender to start developing with the Flyers."

The team waived Hextall July 1, and since no team claimed him the Flyers must buy out the final year of his contract. It is unclear whether he might be offered a job in the front office or as an assistant.

He was 10-7-4 with a 2.53 goals-against average last season and has a 296-214-69 career record. The Atlanta Thrashers, wanting younger and less expensive players, did not select him in the expansion draft.

A 13-year veteran, Hextall backed up John Vanbiesbrouck last year, overtaking Bernie Parent for the team lead with 240 victories. Hextall also is No. 1 on the Flyers' career lists for games, playoff games and playoff victories. He was the starting goalie for the Wales Conference in the 1988 All-Star game.

Hextall was drafted by the Flyers in 1982, then traded to Quebec in the seven-player deal in which the Flyers acquired Eric Lindros on June 20, 1992.

The Flyers traded Hextall, Peter Forsberg, Steve Duchesne, Kerry Huffman, Mike Ricci, Chris Simon, a first-round draft pick and $15 million to the Nordiques for Lindros.

Hextall was later traded to the New York Islanders, playing one season before being dealt back to the Flyers in 1994.

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