Kingerski: Did Penguins’ Ron Hextall Get it Right … Again?
Ron Hextall is pretty close to undefeated as the general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins, often despite the noise surrounding him.
Something was broken with the Penguins in late October and a few weeks in November. The penalty-kill was little more than a red cape for the charging bull of opposing power plays. The team lacked energy and had an odd air of indifference, bordering on arrogance, as it sank like a stone in the Eastern Conference standings.
Losing seemed to annoy them, although they routinely repeated the same mistakes.
It seemed like they could do nothing right against teams like Calgary, even Seattle, and the formerly lifeless Vancouver Canucks, yet they publicly maintained they liked parts of their game.
Raise your hand if you insisted a trade was necessary. I certainly was in that camp.
Someone, almost anyone, had to go. That’s how it works when you’re losing.
The men who previously held Hextall’s seat surely would have made a “change of scenery” move or three to shake the team from its slumber.
Jim Rutherford did that multiple times, including in November, 2018 when he attempted to rattle cages by trading the immensely popular Carl Hagelin for Tanner Pearson.
Ray Shero had regular-season dynamos and never faced a spiraling regular-season team. Shero did his work near the NHL trade deadline, but he never was shy.
Craig Patrick could and would move players like an auctioneer, though that was mostly in the pre-salary cap days, when trades were a little easier.
For example, in November 1997, Patrick wanted to remake his team. He acquired six players over three trades in one day before the season was two months old. Jason Woolley, Stu Barnes, Darius Kasparaitis, Andreas Johansson, Alex Hicks, and Frederick Olausson became Penguins.
Patrick made nine trades that season.
Yet, as the 2022-23 Pittsburgh Penguins’ fortress appeared to be crumbling in November, and no one seemed to have any real answers, Hextall kept his powder dry.
His inaction was as correct as it was inexplicable.
Even Kasperi Kapanen, generally viewed as Hextall’s summer mistake, is playing good hockey since returning from his healthy scratch exile. He has four goals in his last three games, including “the easiest hat trick in history” on Saturday against St. Louis.
More importantly than the flashing goal lights, Kapanen is playing in the low zone, and with speed.
Hextall also rejected “offers” for Jason Zucker over the summer. PHN reported that a Metro team offered to take Zucker, but only with a first-round pick attached.
Hextall declined that potential Penguins trade.
Another good move. Zucker has been one of the resurgent Penguins this season. He’s the team’s fourth-leading scorer with 18 points (6-12-18) in 24 games.
Not bad for a guy who, in May, had been propped up on the bench in the playoffs like a Macy’s window mannequin so that he could play through a core-muscle injury.
Hextall has a long path ahead as he attempts to remake the Pittsburgh Penguins around the aging core of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang. The Philadelphia Flyers fans aren’t so happy with Hextall’s draft record, and mentioning his name typically brings a swift and adverse reaction (including from some inside the Flyers organization, who directed heavy criticism at Ron Hextall last year).
The Flyers’ current state of disrepair and woe does, in part, point back to Hextall’s inactivity.
But the Penguins are a different team, in a different place.
Because of Hextall’s lack of panic when all around him seemed ready and the resurgence of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, the Penguins remained the same team, they are winners of three straight, 10 of 14, and are now in a playoff position (third place in the Metro).
Just don’t tell Flyers fans. Hextall got it right.
Categorized:Penguins
The jury is still out on Kapanen. We need to see more than 2 good games from him.
Well, They have to hope Kap plays well, because the smart money would be to move him when his value is highest if this continues, bring in someone who can play 3C-moving carter to Rw- that contracts isnt great but I get why he is here. Anyone with a pulse doesn’t move Zucker with a 1st rounder. Not saying to keep the pick either, if they can pick up.a.piece to help the team past this year-I would consider it. Lastly, can hextall be a back up for the playoffs? Seems like the 1 area thats bit them the last couple… Read more »
I’m not sure about writing this article at this point of the season. I still think the third line needs to be retooled. Kappy needs to go and Carter shouldn’t be playing center anymore. I don’t think McGinn is a third-liner on a cup winning team either.
But the article is ONLY about this point in the season, comparing Hextall’s reaction to that of past GMs in similar situations.
Amen!
The reason they are winning is because Letang is not on the ice.
Yikes he does take up a lot of ice time but not sure beyond that not having a good year so far would like to see Sit
SMITH CALLED UP
Would this same article have been written if the players who were ill remained out for last night’s game, and the Pens would have been skating with 10, yes 10, skaters–due to salary cap limitations. Assembling a team right up to the cap is irresponsible by any measure. Note: the Steelers always reserve several million in cap space for mid season injuries, etc.
That’s an interesting question. I humbly submit — I don’t know. I have been critical of living on the edge like this, but the point I made was that Hextall’s calm has the Penguins in a better spot
The whole story this year compared to last 2 years is injuries and man games lost.
The Pens are as healthy as they ever have been since the last cup.
Will that last? Look at Colorado and Philly and Columbus etc.
With the cap as tight as it is a couple of injuries mean you are playing AHL talent in the NHL.
I hope the Pens can stay healthy. If they can, then they can make a run with this team.
If not, YIKES!
There is a LOT of hockey left this season. What will be a tell tale sign is as the season progresses, will the Pens be able to keep up? Will the oldest team in the NHL be able to keep pace over the long haul as they progress into the deeper part of the season? Will age catch up or will they overcome father time, with injuries, fatigue, and physical play? That will be the test. In my view, Kapanen with a 2 game surge (Really)? Hardly an adequate test to justify the nutty contract AAV and term. The Kapanen… Read more »
If there’s a better GM than Hexie, then I haven’t seen him. The guy didn’t win all those Stanley Cups and Executive of the Year Awards for nothin’, you know. #GOAT
Its either stupidity ir sarcasm. Lol
Is Kap gone no matter what? If he keeps playing well market him to another team or if he starts to tank put him on waivers….
He will tank he is a classic underproformer Pens are not better with him on the ice one good game does not make him a good player
I’ll probably be shouted down for writing this, but when you look at all the decisions Hextall had to make over the off-season and all the moving parts he had to deal with, I think you’d be hard-pressed to do a better job. He had major decisions to make and not just a little negotiating to perform to secure mssrs. Malkin, Letang, Rakell and Rust, not to mention Kapanen, Heinen and DeSmith. Yeah, he could’ve sharpened his pencil on the Kapanen signing or gone in another direction. Perhaps we’ll come to rue the Marino-Smith trade, although the jury’s still out… Read more »
Correction…Bobrovsky was Dale Tallon’s blunder.
I agree
Waiting for Blueger and Carter to get healthy was a brilliant move!
There are really not to many great teams out there these days! Just have to go with it! Still the same OLD Pens but a five year rebuild was not in the cards! 25 quality players is hard to come up with! Seems like Hextall has pulled it off. I know I’m enjoying them!
I am not a fan of judging anything on such a small sample size. People have been judging certain players and hextall since before any games had been played.
Whatever, i just like watching hockey. They are all better than me at what they do, so how can i judge? It has been a very fun season so far. Ups and downs. The salary cap tightness is a concern for almost every team. Just thought i would throw that out there.
One of my favorite replies this season, Robert. Thank you.
AGREED! The perfect comment!
A true rational Pittsburgh penguins supporter! I’m with you Robert shoemaker!
Shoemaker, Shoemaker make me a shoe. You might be too rational. Saying you can’t criticize because these guys are better than you, they’re also paid a lot more than you and put themselves into the position to be criticized willingly. Still appreciate your positivity. Go Pens!
I also have better things to do. I don’t waste my time complaining about things that I HAVE COMPLETELY NO CONTROL OVER!!!
I’d like to add nothing rational about being a fan; we pay to watch rich people play silly games that in the end are meaningless to the betterment of man kind– great therapy and distraction from the crazy world we live in. All comments are valid !