Paul Holmgren played 10 NHL seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers and Minnesota North Stars. Drafted 108th overall in the 1975 NHL Amateur Draft by Philadelphia, Holmgren spent 8 seasons with the Flyers and was annually among the team’s leaders in penalty minutes but was also able to contribute offensively posting career highs in goals (30) and points (65) in 1979-80 and added 10 goals and 10 assists during the Flyers playoff run. His three goals in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals was the first time a U.S.-born player scored a hat trick in a Cup Finals game. Holmgren was traded to the Minnesota North Stars mid-way through 1983–84. He left Philly with 1,600 penalty minutes, the most in Flyers franchise history up until Rick Tocchet broke the record during the 1991–92 season. He only played 27 regular season and 15 playoff games with the North Stars over two seasons, retiring after the 1984–85 season. Holmgren immediately moved into coaching upon retiring, becoming an assistant coach with the Flyers under Mike Keenan. After Keenan was fired following the 1987–88 season, Holmgren became the first former Flyer to be named the team's head coach. After time head coaching with the Hartford Whalers, Holmgren returned to Philadelphia during the 1995–96 season as the director of pro scouting. He was named the director of player personnel following the 1996–97 season and was named assistant general manager following the 1998–99 season. He served in that position under general manager Bobby Clarke until Clarke resigned a month into the 2006–07 season, at which time Holmgren was named general manager of the club. In 2014, Holmgren was promoted to president of the Flyers and is currently a Senior Advisor to Dave Scott, Comcast Spectacor Chairman and CEO and Governor of the Flyers. Holmgren is the winner of the 2014 Lester Patrick Award for his contributions to hockey in the United States and in 2021 he was inducted into the Flyers hall of fame.
