The Penguins have fired general manager Ron Hextall, president of hockey operations Brian Burke and assistant general manager Chris Pryor, the team announced Friday. Here’s what you need to know:
- Hextall and Burke were hired on February 9, 2021 — less than two weeks after former GM Jim Rutherford’s surprise retirement. Burke was the franchise’s first President of Hockey Operations.
- The Penguins’ best NHL streak of 16 straight playoff appearances ended this season.
- Hextall is the first Penguins GM since Tony Esposito (April 14, 1988 to December 5, 1989) not to win the Stanley Cup.
- Pittsburgh hired Pryor as director of player staff in 2021.
What went wrong
Neither Hextall nor Burke appeared to stylistically match their hirings, but the Penguins were desperate for mid-season hires to replace Rutherford at the start of the season curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Hextall’s patient- and interest-centric approach and Burke’s rampage contrasted with Rutherford’s aggressive, all-in philosophy and congenial mannerisms.
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Hextall and Burke were hired by previous owners (Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle) to keep the Penguins in cup competition while building for future salary cap issues. Fenway Sports Group (FSG) bought the Penguins midway through the management tandem’s first full season (2021-22).
What’s next
The Penguins don’t have a CEO, so it’s unclear who will oversee the search for a general manager. It’s also unclear if they will try to hire another hockey operations president or have the next GM oversee the hockey department again. Burke’s role was never explicitly defined, and he appeared to serve Hextall more as an advisor.
The FSG is still relatively new to hockey, although it has overseen regime change at its other major sports facilities – the Boston Red Sox in baseball and Liverpool Football Club in the Premiere League. It’s likely that FSG will want a new manager/management team no later than the NHL draft in late June.
coaching effect
Coach Mike Sullivan is under contract through the 2026-27 season after signing a three-year extension last summer. A two-time cup winner and most successful manager in franchise history, Sullivan has the support of the Penguins’ most influential players – captain Sidney Crosby and top reserve Evgeni Malkin.
A new manager/management team will likely give Sullivan at least next season to prove he’s her man behind the bench. Associate coach Todd Reriden and assistant coach Mike Vellucci signed an extension last summer that expires after the 2023-24 season.
What you say
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to work in this passionate sports city,” says Burke said on Twitter. “Thank you to FSG, Mario Lemieux, David Morehouse, management and coaches and especially to our amazing group of players. Best of luck to the Penguins and their incredible fan base in the future.”
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(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)