Burke named Penguins president of hockey operations, Hextall GM
Hired less than two weeks after Rutherford resigned because of personal reasons
By
Wes Crosby
NHL.com Independent Correspondent
The hires come less than two weeks after Jim Rutherford resigned as general manager Jan. 27 because of personal reasons. The Penguins made the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of Rutherford's six seasons and won the Stanley Cup in 2016 and 2017.
"With these two guys, we have two of the greatest minds in hockey," Penguins president and CEO David Morehouse said. "Two of the most respected people in hockey. It carries on a tradition of the Penguins that goes back to when we had 'Badger Bob' [Johnson], Scotty Bowman and Jim Rutherford on to today with Brian Burke and Ron Hextall."
Burke has 31 years of experience as an NHL executive and won the Stanley Cup as general manager of the Anaheim Ducks in 2007. He was general manager of the Hartford Whalers (1992-93) and Vancouver Canucks (1998-2004), president and general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs (2008-13), and president of hockey operations for the Calgary Flames (2013-18). He was executive vice president and director of hockey operations for the NHL from 1993-98.
The 65-year-old was as a hockey analyst for Sportsnet and on "Hockey Night in Canada."
Burke initially aided Pittsburgh's general manager search without any intention to leave Sportsnet. Penguins co-owner Mario Lemieux asked Morehouse to present Burke with an opportunity to become president of hockey operations, a new role within the Penguins.
"[David] talked to Mario, and Mario said, 'Well, what's he doing?'" Burke said. "When he called back, I would've said no if it was anyone but David Morehouse and the Pittsburgh Penguins. I was happy with my life, and happy to stay [in media]. I like living in Toronto.
"But you get to work for the Pittsburgh Penguins, man. You're talking, this is Cadillac class here. This is not your run-of-the-mill team. This is not your run-of-the-mill ownership. … I'm so excited to move to Pittsburgh. It's one of the great sports towns on the planet. It's the best sports town in America, for me."
Hextall, who will oversee daily hockey operations and report to Burke, was general manager of the Philadelphia Flyers from May 7, 2014 until he was fired Nov. 26, 2018 and replaced by Chuck Fletcher. The Flyers made the playoffs twice during Hextall's four full seasons as general manager.
"I think [the Penguins] run a first-class organization," said Hextall, son of former Penguins forward Bryan Hextall. "I'm very excited to be a part of it. The Pittsburgh Penguins have been a part of my history since I was a young fellow living in Pittsburgh for five or six years, I think. Started playing hockey in Pittsburgh, ironically. I do have a tie to Pittsburgh.
"If you would've told me two years ago that I'd be sitting here as general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins, I would've started laughing. But here we are."
Eleven players drafted by the Flyers during Hextall's time as general manager have played for Philadelphia this season. After Rutherford's resignation, Morehouse said the Penguins are not interested in a rebuild and remain in "win-now" mode.
Pittsburgh (5-5-1) enters play Tuesday fifth in the MassMutual East Division, one point behind the New York Islanders. The top four teams qualify for the playoffs.
"What we're looking to do is make the Pittsburgh Penguins the best team we can this year," Hextall said. "We'll see where it goes. We'll see how good we are. We'll see how our players respond. We'll address things as we go along."
The 56-year-old, who was selected by the Flyers in the sixth round (No. 119) of the 1982 NHL Draft, played 11 of his 13 NHL seasons for Philadelphia, where his 240 wins and 489 games played are most by a goalie in its history. He helped the Flyers to the Stanley Cup Final as a rookie in 1986-87, winning the Vezina Trophy voted as the NHL's top goalie and the Conn Smythe Trophy voted MVP of the 1987 playoffs although Philadelphia lost the Final to the Edmonton Oilers in seven games. He helped the Flyers reach the Final in 1997 and started three of their four straight losses to the Detroit Red Wings.
After retiring in 1999, Hextall worked seven seasons in Philadelphia's front office as a scout and director of player personnel. He was hired as assistant GM of the Los Angeles Kings in 2006 and won the Cup with them in 2012.
"My philosophy has always been, we want to be as good as we can be," Hextall said. "We also have to keep the future in mind, but we have to keep today in mind too. This situation I'm coming into now is certainly different than the one that we took over in L.A. or in Philadelphia.
"I'm not a one-trick pony. I'll work with [Brian] to, again, become the best team we can today. If we can get better this year, we'll try to get better."
