Penguins Plan to Move on From Ron Hextall

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Ryan Fiore
April 14, 2023 (8:04)

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Penguins fans may not have to wait long for the change they've been begging for all season.

A New Hope

Penguins fans should be getting some good news in days to come.

Hextall made many questionable acquisitions this season that some might say helped bury the team.

Bad Trades

Ahead of this year's trade deadline, Hextall traded a 2023 2nd round pick to the Nashville Predators in exchange for forward Mikael Granlund. 31 year old Granlund, who has 2 more years on his $5M contract, had 1 goal and 4 assists since joining the Pens.

Hextall also traded Brock McGinn and a 2024 3rd round pick to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for 32 year old defenseman Dmitry Kulikov at the deadline. Kulikov had 1 assist before being injured 4 games in to his Penguins career.

Hextall's last deadline move came when he traded a 2023 7th round pick and a 2024 5th round pick to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for 34 year old Nick Bonino, who previously won two Stanley Cups with the Penguins in 2016 and 2017. Bonino was injured 3 games into his second stint with Pittsburgh. Bonino did not return before the season ended, thus finishing the season with no goals or assists with the Penguins.

Bad Extension

In January 2022, Hextall signed forward then 37 year old Jeff Carter to a two year extension. While Carter did have 13 goals and 16 assists this season, his performance certainly went downhill after the extension, failing to make smart plays and turning over the puck plenty.

Time For Change

Penguins fans could not be more happy to move on from Hextall, as "Fire Hextall" chants broke out at multiple Penguins games after the trade deadline.

It was revealed by Pens goaltender Tristan Jarry, who is set to become a free agent this summer, that he was dealt with injuries all season and was not 100%, leaving fans wondering why Hextall failed to acquire another goaltender.

It is also possible that the Penguins' owner, Fenway Sports Group, could choose to clean house and move on from President of Hockey Operations Brian Burke, as well as head coach Mike Sullivan.

Only time will tell. And that time can't come soon enough for Pens fans.