Penguins Update: Hextall Flunking Summer School?

One of my very favorite movies is Blazing Saddles. And one of my very favorite scenes is when Hedley Lamarr’s henchman, Taggart, and his band of cut throats and ruffians encounter a bogus toll booth in the middle of the badlands on their way to destroy the town of Rock Ridge.

“The (Gov.) Le Petomane Thruway?” Taggart fumed as he read the inscription on the toll booth. “What’ll that *bleep* think of next?”

Well, with all due respect, I’m kind of feeling the same way about GM Ron Hextall. Let’s see. So far this summer we effectively lost not one, but two good players to Seattle in the expansion draft, including our emotional pulse and fire starter Brandon Tanev. We watched Cody Ceci (Edmonton) and Frederick Gaudreau (Minnesota) sign with other clubs. Okay, maybe not Hextall’s fault…he only has so much to work with, cap-wise, and they both received significant bumps in pay.

I can even live with bringing Evan Rodrigues back. He grew on me as the season progressed.

But signing Dominik Simon?

Not in the deepest, darkest recesses of my mind did I think for one second the Pens would bring back the checkered Czech forward. Especially given our stated desire to add size and sand.

Heck, I was so confident he’d never be black-and-gold property again I even teased Other Rick about it the other day. (Yes, you can blame me.)

Does Mike Sullivan have compromising photos of Hextall and Brian Burke as well as everyone else in the organization? He must. How else can you explain such a disastrous move.

I don’t mean to be harsh. But Simon had zero, zip, nada points in 11 games with Calgary this past season. Four shots on goal. Thirty-percent in the faceoff circle. A sparkling Corsi (his supposed strength) of 48.9. The very definition of a perimeter player.

Puh-lease. That’s $750,000 that could’ve been better spent elsewhere, two-way deal or not.

Even worse? You just know at the first hint of anything, Simon will be playing right wing on Sid’s line. I can hear Sully now. “We think Dom’s got some good skills.”

Yeah, and I got some swamp land in Florida I’ll sell to you cheap. It’s called the Everglades.

Penguins Sign McGinn

Okay, so Hextall did walk the dog back in…slightly…by signing free agent forward Brock McGinn to a four-year deal with an average annual value of $2.75 million.

The 27-year-old left wing plays an honest, aggressive game and is good on the penalty kill. Offensively, the former second-round pick of the Hurricanes topped out at 16 goals in 2017-18. This past season, he tallied eight goals and 13 points in 37 games.

Basically a replacement for Tanev.

There is a bonus with McGinn. Although he doesn’t drop the gloves all that often, he can fight, especially when compared to his new teammates. However, at 6’0” and 187 pounds, don’t expect him to take on the Tom Wilsons of the world.

All-in-all, a solid signing. But the Pens need more, especially in the size/toughness department.

Let’s hope Hextall delivers.

Lindberg Signs

Okay, make that two good moves for Hextall & Company. They signed hot goaltending prospect Filip Lindberg to a two-year entry deal today.

A former seventh-round pick of Minnesota who couldn’t come to terms with the Wild, Lindberg, 22, enjoyed spectacular collegiate success at UMass-Amherst. Over the past three seasons the 6’1″ 188-pounder’s posted a sparkling 1.58 goals against average and equally impressive .937 save percentage in 50 games, along with 11 shutouts.

A welcome addition to a team that’s more than a bit thin in the goaltending department. Especially with Maxime Lagace signing with Tampa Bay today.

Pens Add Depth Defender

The Pens capped the first day of free agency by signing veteran defenseman Taylor Fedun to a one-year, two-way deal worth $750,000. A right-hand shot, the 33-year-old blueliner has played in 127 NHL games for five teams, including Edmonton, Vancouver, San Jose, Buffalo and Dallas.

He’s expected to provide depth and veteran leadership for the Baby Pens, who lost Zach Trotman (retirement) and Kevin Czuczman (free agency).