Terms of Esposito's multi-term contract were not disclosed. He will work out of the firm's Tampa office but will network nationally with clients.

Esposito is the first former professional athlete to be hired by Paragon under a new marketing plan aimed at increasing the company's mortgage originations through the recruiting of prominent sports figures, says Paragon chief financial officer Scott Vining.

"This partnership with Paragon offers Phil an opportunity to create a successful post-sports business within our mortgage division by working with developers, national builders and real estate agents," Vining says.

Esposito hails the Paragon athlete-hiring concept. "Their approach of recruiting certain current and former professional athletes into the company, teaching them the mortgage business and allowing them to leverage their relationships to build a life after sports in an industry that holds such great opportunity, is truly unprecedented," the 64-year-old Esposito says.

He played with the Chicago Black Hawks, Boston Bruins and New York Rangers in his 18-year NHL season. He was a 10-time All Star and represented Canada in the 1972 Summit Series, the 1976 Canada Cup and the 1977 World Championship. Esposito was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

When he retired from the New York Rangers in 1981, Esposito became one of the team's assistant coaches and then moved on to a position as a TV analyst for the Madison Square Garden network. He was named vice president and general manager of the Rangers in 1986. He accepted the same positions later with the Tampa Bay Lightning when that team entered the NHL.