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The Pittsburgh Penguins have gone to great lengths to revamp their front office to replace Jim Rutherford. Like, really big.
Well, that’s something. Hear Brian Burke will join Ron Hextall at PIT. Burke as president of hockey operations; Hextall as GM
I will miss this teammate, I loved working with you Burkie– Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) February 9, 2021
Brian Burke has served as Managing Director of Hartford, Vancouver, Anaheim, Toronto and most recently Calgary. Burke was also the Flames president of hockey operations from 2013 to 2018.
Why would the Penguins consider adding two senior members to their hockey operations and management? Greg Wyshynski shed some light on the rationale behind what the pens are trying to accomplish.
One thing about this research is clear: The Penguins want someone who can give this group the best chance of winning this season, but understand that the closet needs to be restocked as soon as possible. Hextall, IMO, has more proof of concept on the latter than the former as an NHL executive.
– Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) February 9, 2021
Burke, 65, has never been accused of having bold visions and being ready to go out and make it happen. Burke won the Stanley Cup with Anaheim in 2007.
And here’s the official announcement from the team:
In their new roles, Hextall will oversee the day-to-day hockey operations of the Penguins, reporting to Burke as senior advisor. Burke will report to David Morehouse, team president and CEO.
“We feel incredibly lucky to bring in two highly respected executives with over 50 years of management experience in the NHL,” said Morehouse. “Ron and Brian are well known in the hockey world as fierce competitors with championship pedigrees. They are very well connected and experienced in all aspects of the game. They are both excited to be working here in Pittsburgh, combining their skills and building on our long tradition of success.
Hextall, 56, an elite NHL goalie when he played, has been in the NHL’s leadership for over twenty years, including a four-year stint as general manager for the Phildelphia Flyers from 2014 to 2018. He was also assistant general manager for the Los Angeles Kings from 2006 to 2013, helping the Kings to their first Stanley Cup in 2012. He started his career after playing as a scout for the Flyers in 1999.
Burke, 65, a Harvard Law School graduate, spent 31 years as an NHL executive and won the Stanley Cup as general manager of the Anaheim Ducks in 2006-07. He was also general manager of the Hartford Whalers and Canucks; president and general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs; and president of hockey operations for the Calgary Flames. From 1993 to 1998, he was Executive Vice President and Director of NHL Hockey Operations, working closely with Commissioner Gary Bettman.
Patrik Allvin, who became the Penguins’ interim general manager when Jim Rutherford stepped down on January 27, will resume his role as deputy general manager under Hextall and Burke.
“It’s an honor to join the Pittsburgh Penguins – an organization well known for excellence on and off the ice,” said Hextall. “I look forward to working with Property, Brian and the entire organization in the ultimate goal of bringing another Stanley Cup to Pittsburgh.
…
“For me, Pittsburgh is a breathtaking destination for any general manager or president of hockey operations,” said Burke. “I am so excited for this opportunity. The Penguins are a legendary franchise with exceptional ownership in Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle, and Pittsburgh is just a big hockey town. Ron Hextall and I are very lucky. We can’t wait to get started. “
Penguins: never without interest.
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