Bulletin: Penguins Hire Ron Hextall and Brian Burke (gasp)

Say this for Penguins owners Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle. They’re not afraid to paint in bold strokes. When they make a move, they make a move.

In 2014, they fired GM Ray Shero, architect of a Stanley Cup champion and only 13 months removed from being named General Manager of the Year, following the second-best regular season in franchise history at the time.

Shortly afterward, they hired former Carolina GM Jim Rutherford on the heels of five straight non-playoff seasons with the ‘Canes and some dubious personnel decisions (remember the disastrous Alexander Semin signing?).

Now, in the aftermath of two more Cups and Rutherford’s sudden resignation, ownership has gone all-in while restructuring the front office. Former Flyers GM Ron Hextall, most recently an advisor (and former assistant GM) with Los Angeles, will succeed JR.

That’s not a huge surprise. According to media outlets Hextall, son of former Penguin Bryan Hextall, Jr. and one-time public enemy No. 1 in these parts, had emerged as the front-runner. But the Brian Burke hiring? At least for me, a shocker.

What’s next, Robbie Brown being named assistant GM? (Kidding…interim GM Patrik Allvin will return to his old post.)

Burke will serve as president of hockey operations and report to David Morehouse. Hextall will report to Burke.

An interesting marriage. Noted for his patient approach to team building, Hextall did a terrific job of restocking Philadelphia’s dwindling coffers with young talent. Fourteen of the current Flyers were acquired during his four-plus seasons at the helm, including 11 who were Hextall draft picks.

However, his slow and steady approach eventually ran afoul of Flyers management, leading to his dismissal in November of 2018.

Burke, on the other hand, was known for his brash and sometimes controversial moves during a 31-year career that included stints as general manager with Hartford, Vancouver, Anaheim and Toronto, as well as president of hockey operations for Calgary from 2013-18.

During his tenure with the Maple Leafs, he famously dealt two first-round picks and a second-rounder to Boston in 2009 for scoring ace Phil Kessel in what proved to be an ill-fated move.

Makes me wonder if Burke was brought in to encourage Hextall to be more aggressive in the trade market. There are similarities between the Providence native and the departed Rutherford, a noted wheeler-dealer.

One thing that encourages me about Burke…he has a taste for physical hockey. Is it too much to dream the Pens may become tougher and more balanced under his watch?

We can only dream.

At the very least, I hope the dual hirings spell the end of the deeply flawed, speed-kills-and-everything-else-be-damned approach the Pens have embraced under coach Mike Sullivan.

A final note…both Hextall and Burke have won a Stanley Cup, the former as an assistant GM with the Kings in 2012 and the latter as GM of the Ducks in 2007.

Should be an interesting ride.