The Pittsburgh Penguins went to great lengths to renovate their front office to replace Jim Rutherford. Like, really great.
Well, that’s something. The hearing of Brian Burke will join Ron Hextall in PIT. Burke as president of Hockey Ops; Hextall as GM
Miss this teammate, and love working with your Burkie– Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) February 9, 2021
Brian Burke was the general manager of Hartford, Vancouver, Anaheim, Toronto, and most recently Calgary. Burke was also the Flames president of hockey operations from 2013 to 18.
Why would the Penguins consider adding two senior members to their hockey operations and management? Greg Wyshynski sheds some light on the rationality of what the Belly is trying to achieve.
One thing about this search is clear: Penguins want someone who can give this group the best chance of winning this season, but they need to understand that the closet needs to replenish as soon as possible. Hextall, IMO, has more evidence of concept regarding the latter than the former as an NHL executive.
– Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) February 9, 2021
Burke, 65, has never been accused of having brave visions and being willing to go out and make it happen. Burke won the Stanley Cup with Anaheim in 2007.
And here’s the team’s official announcement:
In their new roles, Hextall will oversee the day-to-day hockey operations of the Penguins and report to Burke as its primary advisor. Burke will report to David Morehouse, the team’s president and CEO.
“We feel incredibly fortunate to bring together two highly regarded executives with a combined more than 50 years of NHL management experience,” Morehouse said. ‘Ron and Brian are 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, putting their skills together and building on our long tradition of success. ”
Hextall, 56, an elite NHL goalie in his playing days, has been on NHL management for more than twenty years, including a four-year term as the 2014-2018 Phildelphia Flyers GM. He was also assistant general manager of the Los Angeles Kings from 2006-2013, and helped the Kings make their first Stanley Cup in 2012. He began his career after playing time as a scout for the Flyers in 1999.
Burke, 65, of Harvard Law School, spent 31 years as manager of the NHL 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 the Canucks; president and general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs; and president of hockey operations for the Calgary Flames. From 1993-98, he was executive vice president and director of hockey operations for the NHL, and worked closely with commissioner Gary Bettman.
Patrik Allvin, who became interim GM of the Penguins when Jim Rutherford resigned on January 27, will resume his role as assistant general manager under Hextall and Burke.
“It’s an honor to join the Pittsburgh Penguins – an organization known for its excellence on and off the ice,” Hextall said. “I look forward to working with Brian and the entire organization to achieve the ultimate goal of bringing another Stanley Cup to Pittsburgh.”
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“To me, Pittsburgh is a breathtaking destination for any GM or president of hockey,” Burke said. ‘I’m so excited for the opportunity. The Penguins is a large franchise with excellent ownership in Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle, and Pittsburgh is just a great hockey city. Ron Hextall and I are very happy. We can not wait to get started. ”
The Penguins: never uninteresting.