The Pittsburgh Penguins are beginning to see their chance to make the playoffs and the fans are getting impatient.
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On Thursday night, fans demanded the resignation of general manager Ron Hextall during a violent 7-2 correction by the Edmonton Oilers. Emotion was palpable at PPG Paints Arena as Connor McDavid and his gang humiliated the penguins in their own home. Several supporter groups began chanting “Dismiss Hextall!”, blaming them for their backlash.
The Pens have had an inglorious run with just one win in their last six games.
“It’s been a tough night for everyone,” captain Sidney Crosby told the media after the game. We don’t like performing in front of them like that. They pay their ticket and want to see better. I understand that. It wasn’t a good night for anyone.”
Transactions and Additions
However, the former goaltender was the fastest GM in concessionaire history in January, reaching the 100-win plateau after just 169 games.
Hextall took office in 2021. Among his deals and additions, made through the free agent market, we note the arrivals of Jeff Petry, Ryan Poehling, Rickard Rakell, and Jeff Carter, but the departures of Mike Matheson, John Marino, Zach Aston-Reese, and Evan Rodrigues . He also managed to strike a long-term deal with Quebec defender Kristopher Letang.
Coming back to the matchup against the Oilers, head coach Mike Sullivan said the Penguins took a step back in that game.
“Obviously when you lose a few games there is an aspect of fragility that is worrying. It’s human nature. […] After all, professional sports are not for the faint of heart. We need to regain control, shake things up a bit and get back to fighting,” he said.
The Penguins, fifth in the Metropolitan Division by their 27-21-9 record, will look to find their way on Saturday afternoon against the St. Louis Blues.