On June 21, 1988, the Maple Leafs sent Stothers back to the Philadelphia Flyers for Bill Root, however he would spend the last 4 years of his playing career with the Hershey Bears of the AHL. In 1988–89, Stothers would get 15 points (4G-11A) in 76 games, along with 262 PIM, and he would earn 2 assists in 9 playoff games. In 1989–90, Stothers would see his production slip to 7 points (1G-6A) in 56 games as the Bears failed to make the playoffs. In 1990–91, Stothers would get 11 points (5G-6A) in 72 games, and chipped in with an assist in 7 playoff games. The 1991–92 season was the final one of Stothers playing career, and he ended it as a player-assistant coach with the Bears, getting 11 points (3G-8A) in 70 games, and had an assist in 6 playoff games. Stothers retired as a hockey player in the summer of 1992 and decided to get into coaching.