Garnet Hathaway is thrilled to remain with the Philadelphia Flyers for another two seasons after extending his contract with the club through 2027.
Hathaway, 32, once lived in Philadelphia as a junior and would later endear himself to the city, the Flyers organization, his coaches, the fans, and his teammates not long after joining the team on July 1, 2023. The nine-year NHL vet caused the Flyers grief for four years as a member of the Washington Capitals, but Hathaway couldn’t be happier to be where he is today.
“I want to be in Philly. That was a big thing for me, so [the] timing on it was great,” Hathaway said in a virtual press conference on Monday afternoon. “The negotiations happened between my agent and obviously Danny (Briere) and the team, but, when it came down to it, this is where I want to be. This is where I want to play. And I had a great year to get introduced to the organization, the players, and it made sense to me. Me and my family are really happy.”
In his first season with the Flyers, Hathaway scored seven goals, 10 assists, and 17 points while being a key contributor on the penalty kill and quietly setting a franchise record and career-high in hits, with 326. Oh, and who could forget that dramatic game-winning goal against the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers on March 7?
Flyers general manager Danny Briere previously indicated to Philly Hockey Now that he and the rest of the front office desperately wanted to retain the 32-year-old buzzsaw beyond the 2024-25 season, and after Hathaway signed a two-year, $4.8 million contract extension on July 1, that mission was accomplished with flying colors.
“He’s a player that brought us an identity with his heavy forechecking, his in-your-face type of hockey, and the way Torts wants them to play,” Briere had said. “I really hope we find a way to keep him longer than just next year.”
Added Briere after the extension was announced: “Garnet has been a great addition to our team and we’re very happy to extend him to be a Flyer for the next several seasons. His style of play and level of professionalism had a big effect on our group last season, and he embodies the standard our team set out to build both on and off the ice.”
The 6-foot-2 forward is now signed through his age-35 season in 2027 but does not have any trade or movement protection clauses in his new contract, per PuckPedia. Regardless, it seems that Hathaway is intent on playing out his twilight years, and perhaps retiring, as a member of the Flyers.
“It was a great opportunity and a challenge to come in and prove myself. Prove that, not only will they see me as a part of their two-year plan, but more than that,” Hathaway said. “I want to be here when their plan really continues to take off and you see us be even more successful than we have been.”
