Penguins Update: Making the Grade (Management)

Grade: A

Exec/Coach

Pos.

The Skinny

Burkle, Lemieux

Owners

They say leadership starts at the top. Truer words were never spoken, especially when describing the Penguins’ organization. It isn’t by accident that the team’s qualified for the postseason 15 consecutive seasons. When Cup-winning GM Jim Rutherford abruptly resigned on January 27, owners Ron Burkle and Mario Lemieux maintained a steady hand with an assist from president and CEO David Morehouse. Within two weeks they’d found their man…former Philly GM and Kings assistant GM Ron Hextall…a hiring universally praised throughout the hockey world. They brought Brian Burke on board as well to serve as president of hockey operations. A consummate job by ownership under considerable duress.

Hextall

GM

Hextall’s been on the job a little over three months. In that time, he’s made five moves…four involving the waiver wire. He placed Juuso Riikola and Colton Sceviour (twice) on waivers, with no takers, and claimed depth defenseman Mark Friedman from Philadelphia. Then he struck gold…literally…at the trade deadline, acquiring veteran power forward Jeff Carter from Los Angeles for a pair of conditional mid-round picks. Carter’s been a revelation, scoring almost at will while adding size, speed and veteran leadership. Did I mention the Kings are eating half of Carter’s $5.27 million salary? Incredible!

Sullivan

HC

I’ve had my issues with Mike Sullivan over the years, mostly regarding his aversion to bigger players who possess a physical bent. But there’s no denying the quality work he’s done this season, especially after having his coaching staff fired from underneath him last fall and a “You’re Next” sign all-but hung outside his door. First the defense was decimated by injuries, then the forwards. It was almost as if COVID was wending its way through the team in injury form. Through it all, Sully kept the team focused and motivated and firing on all cylinders. The result? Our first division title under his watch. And perhaps his most inspired coaching job yet.

Grade: A-

Exec/Coach

Pos.

The Skinny

Rutherford

GM

Jim Rutherford left a solid base for Hextall to work with. His offseason moves, many of which seemed suspect at the time, have worked almost flawlessly. Kasperi Kapanen, Mike Matheson, Cody Ceci, Frederick Gaudreau, Evan Rodrigues…my goodness. To say nothing of signing Jared McCann at a bargain rate of $2.94 million and plucking promising players like Radim Zohorna seemingly out of nowhere. All the while achieving his stated goal to make the team younger and faster. Thanks JR!

Reirden

AC

In his second go ‘round as a Pens assistant, Todd Reirden was tasked with fixing our busted power play and performing similar miracles with our defense. In particular, newcomers Matheson and Ceci were in need of his “whisperer’s” touch. Hampered by a brief 10-day training camp and subsequent injuries to the defense, it was slow going at first. But gradually Todd’s message got through. Matheson and Ceci enjoyed astonishing revivals and the power play finished fourth in the league at 23.7 percent.

Grade: B+

Coach

Pos.

The Skinny

Buckley

GC

Entering the season, one of the team’s biggest question marks was goaltending. While Tristan Jarry had done well as a part-time starter, how would he handle a full-time starter’s role? And how would backup Casey DeSmith hold up upon his return to the NHL after being banished to the Baby Pens the season before? The doubts intensified through the early going as both goalies struggled. Jarry in particular, was playing too deep in his net and seemed to have lost confidence. Buckley promptly righted the sinking ship. Jarry finished third in the league in wins and DeSmith led the league in goals against average for a brief stretch. A job well done.

Grade: C+

Coach

Pos.

The Skinny

Vellucci

AC

Charged with overseeing our forwards and the penalty kill, Mike Vellucci’s work must be viewed as a mixed bag. On one hand, the forwards thrived under his watch, including kids and veteran call-up Gaudreau. However, in stark contrast to the power play, the penalty kill struggled all season long (27th in the league at 77.4 percent). In fairness to Vellucci, many of the team’s top penalty killers, including Teddy Blueger and Brandon Tanev, spent significant chunks of time on IR. But the Michigan native fell well short of solving our P-K woes.