Penguins Fire President Burke, GM Hextall, AGM Pryor

[BagoPucks]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

One thing about that fanbase is that they only support winners. If they come out and say they are rebuilding, the fans will stop buying tickets.

Unlike hockey in Canada. We will drown ourselves in hockey with no accountability only because hockey is Canadian? I think my solution to Canadian teams doing better is for Canadians to find something to do better thanwatching mediocre hockey.

[Hey Connor, It's Mess]

I think this group of 3 was specifically brought in to maximize Crosby's/Pittsburgh's window. Hearing Burke speak about the Penguins it was always a championship mindset. They are probably all disappointed with how things went. I've never thought Hextall was a particularly good GM.

[Canada 02]

I need to look it up in case my memory is faulty, but I recall Hextall wanted to draft Cale Makar, but the Flyers (Holmgren) went with Nolan Patrick. That was the beginning of the end for Hextall in Philly.

Or maybe it was the other way around. Hextall wanted Patrick but the brass wanted Makar.

Hextall won a cup with the Kings as AGM so maybe a Sutter connection

[topfiverecords]

Hextall was always a weird hire by the Penguins. First, that's like us hiring Kevin Lowe. Second, he never built the Flyers into anything of any substance.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

I need to look it up in case my memory is faulty, but I recall Hextall wanted to draft Cale Makar, but the Flyers (Holmgren) went with Patrick Nolan. That was the beginning of the end for Hextall in Philly.

Hextall won a cup with the Kings as AGM so maybe a Sutter connection

There was so much talent in that draft. Pattrick is one of few players who did not pan out. That said, Pattrick had the look of a star player coming into the draft. Yet another talented player derailed by brain injuries.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

There was so much talent in that draft. Pattrick is one of few players who did not pan out. That said, Pattrick had the look of a star player coming into the draft. Yet another talented player derailed by brain injuries.

But there was already injury concerns with Patrick heading into that draft too. It was a risky pick to begin with.

[bluejays]

Burke was awful for the past decade. Letting a shallow team like the Pens determine their own future, specifically Crosby, Malkin and Letang, was a stupid move. The win now mentality of these geezers is dumb. Letang should never have had the option. Maybe the previous two but you still should explore possibilities to see what’s out there. Burkes been short term thinking for three teams in a row. See ya.

[kyuss275]

Tre is going to have options and I doubt high in his list is trying to get this very old aged core to the Stanley cup. Can’t see him wanting this job

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

Tre is going to have options and I doubt high in his list is trying to get this very old aged core to the Stanley cup. Can’t see him wanting this job

Yeah if he wants that, he might as well stay here.

[jeffman]

Hextall got fired twice in one season, ouch

[TheSquatch]

So does Tre tradeBacklund to the Pens and then go be the GM there?

[zamler]

This is what accountability looks like, good for the Pens.

[Sylvanfan]

Pittsburgh's problem is that Crosby/Malkin/Letang are all too old to lead a team. Malkin will be 37, Crosby 36, Letang 36 when next season starts. They are legacy players you want to finish their career with the team. But they're too old to be the guys leading the charge. You can't get a good enough group of younger players with that many guys that age and salary to take the reigns.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Hextall was always a weird hire by the Penguins. First, that's like us hiring Kevin Lowe. Second, he never built the Flyers into anything of any substance.

The funny thing is that Hextall never actually wanted to play for the Flyers. His father played for the Pens and he grew up idolizing Pens goalie Jim Rutherford. He was actually upset when the Flyers drafted him. Going to work for the Pens was his dream for a long time.

[SuperMatt18]

I'd take Burke back here as president of hockey ops

[Toonage]

Given the back eye the league got with the pride night issues, the league itself should have Burke back so he can help deliver the message to teams.

That sounded threatening lol. Not my intent.

[dustygoon]

I know it's paywalled, but this is one of the nastiest pieces I've seen written about a guy after he was fired:

Hextall is one of the worst general managers in franchise history. He may well have destroyed the Penguins with his ghastly record of player transactions.

It’s easy to say that Hextall is a fool, and surely this explains why he stunk as general manager. Maybe.

More than anything, though, Hextall was a weakling during his time as Penguins’ general manager. Tough guy Hextall, the goalie with an attitude, rolled over and let his assistants make decisions. He let his players make decisions. He let fans make decisions. He sat quietly in his office all day while the rest of the organization was fading away.

Hextall’s decision-making was more than enough to warrant his dismissal. His lack of guts made it a no-brainer.

https://theathletic.com/4412478/2023...shared_article

[CSharp]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Missing the playoffs not too acceptable for that team.

It may be understandable if you have two aging franchise players but they're in a frickin tough conference as compared to the Flames. I think the Pens were actually positioning themselves for a top 10 draft pick. Maybe the ownership should've fired management back in January and have the team tank. Not like the Pens haven't done this before in the past to get Crosby, Malkin, Fleury, and so on.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by CSharp

It may be understandable if you have two aging franchise players but they're in a frickin tough conference as compared to the Flames. I think the Pens were actually positioning themselves for a top 10 draft pick. Maybe the ownership should've fired management back in January and have the team tank. Not like the Pens haven't done this before in the past to get Crosby, Malkin, Fleury, and so on.

92 points to make the playoffs is not tough lol Flames had 93

They lost to Chicago, Columbus X2, Montreal, Ottawa down the stretch

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by zamler

This is what accountability looks like, good for the Pens.

How do you see them improving, old players and few assets

Probably worse next year