Marc Staal signs 1-year contract with Flyers

Marc Staal signed a one-year, $1.1 million contract with the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday.

The 36-year-old defenseman had 15 points (three goals, 12 assists) in 82 regular-season games for the Florida Panthers last season and no points in 21 Stanley Cup Playoff games. The Panthers advanced to the Stanley Cup Final.

"They have a lot of guys there that have a lot of experience already, Staal said Wednesday. "I think the biggest thing for any veteran guy that has played a long time is coming to the rink and putting your work in and competing 100 percent on the ice every day at practice, every game, and just showing that example every day and enjoying what you're doing. Playing in this league is a ton of fun and being able to come there and enjoy it with a bunch of new guys that are excited to get going, get winning and that opportunity and that feeling in the room is always exciting. I'm just happy to be a part of it.

"There's some familiarity there, obviously, with (Flyers coach John Tortorella) and having conversations with him. I've competed against the Flyers for a lot of years and I know from the guys that have played there that I've talked to, everyone really has always spoken very highly of the organization, so that was an easy fit. It just seemed right. It wasn't a very hard decision when the feeling was mutual. It came together pretty quick."

RELATED: [NHL Free Agent tracker]

The No. 12 pick by the New York Rangers in the 2005 NHL Draft, Staal has 229 points (52 goals, 177 assists) in 1,101 regular-season games for the Panthers, Detroit Red Wings and Rangers and 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists) in 128 playoff games.

"We never thought that a player like Marc Staal would have any interest in coming here, so we were pretty excited when we found out that there was mutual interest," Flyers general manager Daniel Briere said. "I think it almost makes too much sense to add a guy like that who's played for 'Torts,' understands what Torts is all about, is willing to kind of pass on that message. He's going to play hard. He's going to try to push our guys and play more and more and more, kind of like what he did in Florida, which I think is great to have."

Staal played for Tortorella with the Rangers from 2008-13.

"When Torts found out that Marc Staal was interested in coming in, he was on board right from the get-go," Briere said. "It's not a name that we had discussed because we didn't think that was a possibility with how well he had played down the stretch and into the playoffs in Florida. We kind of assumed that he would go back there or probably want to go to a contender to make another Cup run right at the moment. We hadn't discussed him too much, but everybody was on board when we found out there was interest on his part."

Philadelphia signed forward Garnet Hathaway to a two-year contract Saturday.

"He helps with our young guys, another physical presence, a guy that can skate, that can kill penalties," Briere said. "There's a lot of assets. His presence, especially as a veteran and the way he's liked on all the teams that he plays, how tough he is to play against as well. It just helps I think with the development of our young guys up front."

The Flyers (31-38-13) finished 14th in the Eastern Conference in 2022-23 and have not qualified for the playoffs the past three seasons.

NHL.com deputy managing editor Adam Kimelman contributed to this report