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Flyers part ways with goalie coach Reese

Florida Panthers v Philadelphia Flyers

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 06: Coaches of the Philadelphia Flyers (L-R) Adam Patterson, Jeff Reese, Ian Laperriere, Craig Berube, Gord Murphy and Joe Mullen pose for a photo prior to a game against the Florida Panthers on November 6, 2014 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)

NHLI via Getty Images

Jeff Reese, Philadelphia’s goalie coach since 2009, is no longer with the team, GM Ron Hextall announced on Friday.

“It was a mutual agreement between both parties,” Hextall said in a statement. “Jeff was an integral part of our coaching staff for the past six seasons and we wish him well.”

Reese, 48, played for five teams over a 12-year NHL career before transitioning into coaching. He caught on with Tampa Bay just two years after his playing days were over, first serving as a goalie coach before becoming an assistant -- he was part of John Tortorella’s staff when the Lightning captured the Stanley Cup in 2004.

His departure in Philly will likely be followed by a number of questions, especially given the work he’s done with Steve Mason. Mason arrived from Columbus in desperate need of a change, and seemed to mesh well with Reese -- more, from an Apr. 2014 piece on NHL.com:

The partnership with goaltending coach Jeff Reese also helped. Reese made changes to Mason’s game, among them moving Mason deeper in the crease, especially off the rush, to better make use of Mason’s 6-foot-4 frame.

But more than technical adjustments, Reese helped ease Mason’s mind.

“A lot of me feeling better was [Reese] expressing confidence from him and the coaching staff and the management here in me,” Mason said. “That’s not something I felt for a long time. For an organization of this magnitude to come in and say we believe in you after the couple years I had struggled said a lot to me personally.”

And more, from NHL.com’s Adam Kimelman:

Really surprising move by Flyers because Steve Mason talked many times about how important Jeff Reese was to his turnaround in Philadelphia

— Adam Kimelman (@NHLAdamK) March 6, 2015


Mason on Reese last season: “He’s gotta be No. 1 on the chart for making this turnaround happen. I’m forever grateful for him.”

— Adam Kimelman (@NHLAdamK) March 6, 2015


More Mason: [Reese] was the first person I called after I signed my new extension. I said this wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for you.

— Adam Kimelman (@NHLAdamK) March 6, 2015

Reese was also credited in helping adjust Mason’s approach to the shootout.