The Philadelphia Flyers took away one of general manager Bobby Clarke's titles, naming chief operating officer Ron Ryan team president.
Clarke, a Hall of Fame Flyers player who joined the team's front office in 1994, remains in control of player personnel decisions, the team said in a news release.
Ryan, a former coach and executive of the World Hockey Association's New England Whalers, will continue to oversee day-to-day operations of the club.
"Ron's been doing the job of president for the most part for the past few years," Flyers spokesman Joe Klueg said. "Bob (Clarke) was deferring to him on certain matters, so it seemed appropriate to give him the title."
The Flyers finished second in the Atlantic Division to the New Jersey Devils and were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by the Ottawa Senators.
Philadelphia has been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in four of the past six seasons.
Ryan joined the Flyers as an executive vice president in 1988 and gradually assumed the management of all business and administrative aspects of the club.
He has been chief operating officer since '91.
"Ron's a great executive, and we have a great working relationship," Clarke said in the news release.
Ryan was general manager of the WHA's Whalers in 1975-77 after having coached the team in 1973-75.
PANTHERS: Defenseman Mathieu Biron was re-signed to a three-year deal.
A restricted free agent, Biron had one goal, eight assists and 14 penalty minutes in 34 games last season. He also had three goals and eight assists in 43 games with the Panthers' AHL affiliate in San Antonio, Texas.
Biron is the second defenseman re-signed by the Panthers this week: Branislav Mezei signed a three-year deal Wednesday.
