REPORT: Penguins Actively Trying to Fix Ron Hextall's Biggest Mistake
When the Penguins fired former GM Ron Hextall, it became incredibly clear that they were focused on moving away from his management philosophy. The hiring of Kyle Dubas as President of Hockey operations only solidified that notion, and it looks like Dubas is already making an effort to reserve the damage done by Hextall.
Penguins Trying to Move Granlund
According to a recent report by NHL insider Frank Seravalli, the Pittsburgh Penguins are actively trying to undo one of Ron Hextall's biggest mistakes by moving out forward Mikael Granlund.
Granlund was acquired by Hextall at this year's NHL trade deadline in exchange for a 2023 second-round draft pick. The move was heavily criticized at the time, mainly due to the fact that Granlund has two more years on his contract which pays him $5 million annually.
That's certainly a bad contract to have, especially when Granlund's on-ice impact is so low. It's likely that Dubas wants to free those $5 million to build a contender around Crosby, Malkin, and Letang before they retire.
What Are Dubas' Options?
The most obvious would be to trade Granlund, but it's unlikely that there are many teams willing to give up actual assets to acquire Granlund.
Another option Dubas has is to buy out Granlund, which could end up being s serious consideration of his.
The first buyout window this offseason opens up 48 hours after the Stanley Cup is awarded, so Dubas will have to make a decision relatively soon on how he wants to approach the Granlund situation. Whatever the end result is, look for Dubas to be active on the phones.
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| POLL | ||
What should Dubas do? | ||
| Trade | 77 | 59.2 % |
| Buyout | 53 | 40.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
