Flyers GM Holmgren signs on for two years

PHILADELPHIA, March 14 (UPI) -- Philadelphia Flyers General Manager Paul Holmgren has agreed to a two-year contract extension with the NHL team.

Holmgren has been the team's general manager since Oct. 22, when Bob Clarke resigned in the wake of the Flyers' 1-6-1 start to the NHL season. The new deal keeps Holmgren with the team through the 2008-09 season.

Holmgren played for the Flyers from 1975-84 and was the team's head coach from 1988-92. He was in his eighth season as assistant general manager when Clarke quit. Over his NHL career -- he played for Philadelphia and the Minnesota North Stars -- Holmgren scored 282 goals and had 350 assists. He had 1,600 penalty minutes in 500 games for Philadelphia, second on the team's all-time list.

"In this year of transition for the Flyers, I think Paul has moved quickly and decisively to better our team on the ice and position us for the future," said Flyers Chairman Ed Snider. "He has the right vision of what we need going forward and is very deserving of the opportunity to be our general manager."