Flyers invite veteran Adam Mair to camp, and sign defenseman Blake Kessel

The Flyers on Wednesday invited forward Adam Mair to their veteran camp and signed defenseman Blake Kessel to an entry-level contract.

Mair, 32, has spent parts of 11 seasons in the NHL, playing for Toronto, Los Angeles, Buffalo, and New Jersey.

Known as a hard-nosed player, the 6-foot-2, 215-pound Mair was originally drafted in the fourth round (84th overall) by Toronto in 1997. In 615 career games, he has 38 goals, 76 assists, and 829 penalty minutes.

Playing for the Devils last season, the Ontario native had one goal, three assists, and 45 penalty minutes in 65 games. He was minus-16.

"My goal is to come in and challenge for a spot - and make the hockey club," said Mair, who was an alternate captain with Buffalo in 2007-08. "That's the only reason to be here."

The Flyers' veteran camp starts Saturday in Voorhees.

Kessel, 22, played the last three seasons at the University of New Hampshire, where he was a teammate of Flyers winger James van Riemsdyk during his first season.

The 6-2, 210-pound Wisconsin native had five goals and 22 assists as a UNH junior.

Kessel, selected by the Islanders in the sixth round of the 2007 draft but not signed, has been taking part in the Flyers' rookie camp. The Flyers rookies will face Washington's prospects Thursday at the Wells Fargo Center at 5 p.m.

Kessel's brother, Phil, plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Contact staff writer Sam Carchidi at scarchidi@phillynews.com or @BroadStBull on Twitter.