Hatcher retires, joins Flyers' staff

PHILADELPHIA, June 16 (UPI) -- Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Derian Hatcher announced his retirement from the NHL Monday.

Hatcher is staying with the club, though, as player development coach. He replaces Eric Desjardins, who left to pursue other business interests, the team said.

Hatcher, 37, missed all of this past season with an injury that eventually required knee replacement surgery.

In 1,045 career regular-season games with Minnesota/Dallas, Detroit and Philadelphia, Hatcher scored 80 goals. He had 251 assists and 1,581 penalty minutes. He also had 33 points in 133 career playoff games.

The Michigan native was drafted eighth overall by the Minnesota North Stars in 1990 and twice played for the U.S. Olympic team.