He was awful in Toronto. Like career ending bad there. I don’t like that I have to pull from pre-08 to find bright spots.
- Victoro311

You listen to Burke talk for 2 minutes and it’s easy to see why he’s bad for the job. The game passed him by long ago.

Tell my why I should be excited about Burke. I really only know him for his Leafs tenure and that was not good.
- Victoro311

Nothing. Hextall will take care of his horrible drafting at least.

Burke is on record for saying the Pens run is over, sad day for the pens and Crosby.

I know that I am in the minority, but the Rags are having a hard time moving Deangelo... His contract has a shorter shelf life...
- Beatnic57

That’s a very different situation.

Nothing. Hextall will take care of his horrible drafting at least.

Burke is on record for saying the Pens run is over, sad day for the pens and Crosby.
- Santo_44

I saw that show too. Him comparing Pens to the Hawks...

You listen to Burke talk for 2 minutes and it’s easy to see why he’s bad for the job. The game passed him by long ago.
- Feds91Stammer

The only positive here is that we don’t know what the FO dynamic is. Burke is technically in the position of most power but maybe he focuses on other stuff and Hextall does everything roster related. If that’s the case we’re fine. But if Burke is here to be the final arbiter of roster decisions we somehow managed to replace Rutherford with a better GM but still come out with a worse FO.

I saw that show too. Him comparing Pens to the Hawks...
- Beatnic57

Hextall is awesome, he will do a good job for the rebuild.

I think they give Crosby this year to compete...this summer could be scorched earth.

I know that I am in the minority, but the Rags are having a hard time moving Deangelo... His contract has a shorter shelf life...
- Beatnic57

He also has some snarl in front of his own net.

Head of Hockey Ops is above the GM in personnel decisions right? Bad if so.
- Victoro311

It is “per se”. Just got told this:

“President of hockey ops overlooks everything from contracts to scouting to gm to who talks to the media and what they say to coaching hires and fires so yes he would be a “higher rank” then Hextall if that’s what you are asking. Trust me Hextall doesn’t take fuuck all and if he wasn’t in full control he wouldn’t have accepted the GM role. What I’m hearing so far is this was Hextalls decision to bring Burke with him. As arrogant as Burke can seem he somehow knows lots about everything and knows everybody in hockey circles which is exactly what you need your president of hockey ops to do. I fully expected Hextall as GM like I text you the first minute Rutherford was gone but didn’t expect or hear of Burke at all which is almost a guarantee Hextall wants him there. As weird as it is having those 2 run it together, I think the pens absolutely nailed this big time! These 2 together could be fuucckkin sick for your boys I’m calling it now! I’d bet Gallant, Gilman and Futa will all be connected to the pens sooner then later if they want to be.”

Wpw, Hextall was expected. Burke comes out of no where.

I dont hate either move, I especially love Hextall's hire. He is the kind of ruthless guy we needed.

I dont know how Burke/Morehouse will work out. Between those two, Id rather have Burke.

Taylor Haase posted an interesting Burke quote from a few months ago. Really interesting. Doesnt want to rebuild, but knows we arent good enough to win now.

Rossi is saying Burke was Mario’s decision and he wanted him for President

Rossi is saying Burke was Mario’s decision and he wanted him for President

Wpw, Hextall was expected. Burke comes out of no where.

I dont hate either move, I especially love Hextall's hire. He is the kind of ruthless guy we needed.

I dont know how Burke/Morehouse will work out. Between those two, Id rather have Burke.

Taylor Haase posted an interesting Burke quote from a few months ago. Really interesting. Doesnt want to rebuild, but knows we arent good enough to win now.


- SuperHenderson13

https://www.pensburgh.com...key-ops-ron-hextall-as-gm

It almost seems that Butke will be a buffer between Morehouse and Hextall

It is “per se”. Just got told this:

“President of hockey ops overlooks everything from contracts to scouting to gm to who talks to the media and what they say to coaching hires and fires so yes he would be a “higher rank” then Hextall if that’s what you are asking. Trust me Hextall doesn’t take fuuck all and if he wasn’t in full control he wouldn’t have accepted the GM role. What I’m hearing so far is this was Hextalls decision to bring Burke with him. As arrogant as Burke can seem he somehow knows lots about everything and knows everybody in hockey circles which is exactly what you need your president of hockey ops to do. I fully expected Hextall as GM like I text you the first minute Rutherford was gone but didn’t expect or hear of Burke at all which is almost a guarantee Hextall wants him there. As weird as it is having those 2 run it together, I think the pens absolutely nailed this big time! These 2 together could be fuucckkin sick for your boys I’m calling it now! I’d bet Gallant, Gilman and Futa will all be connected to the pens sooner then later if they want to be.”
- pens4life-66

Yeah... No way does Hextall takes the job to have Burke put his fat head into player decisions.

It is “per se”. Just got told this:

“President of hockey ops overlooks everything from contracts to scouting to gm to who talks to the media and what they say to coaching hires and fires so yes he would be a “higher rank” then Hextall if that’s what you are asking. Trust me Hextall doesn’t take fuuck all and if he wasn’t in full control he wouldn’t have accepted the GM role. What I’m hearing so far is this was Hextalls decision to bring Burke with him. As arrogant as Burke can seem he somehow knows lots about everything and knows everybody in hockey circles which is exactly what you need your president of hockey ops to do. I fully expected Hextall as GM like I text you the first minute Rutherford was gone but didn’t expect or hear of Burke at all which is almost a guarantee Hextall wants him there. As weird as it is having those 2 run it together, I think the pens absolutely nailed this big time! These 2 together could be fuucckkin sick for your boys I’m calling it now! I’d bet Gallant, Gilman and Futa will all be connected to the pens sooner then later if they want to be.”
- pens4life-66

Ok this puts me way at ease. Goes back to what I was saying on this is all dependent on the power dynamic. If Hextall is in full control I don’t give a (frank) if Burke is in some glorified networking role.

Let’s go out there and grab Futa and Gilman. Always been more of a Bruce B. guy, but more than happy with Gerard Gallant.

That’s a very different situation.
- Rinosaur

Agreed, but if the Rags would trade him for Matheson straight up, do you do it? I would

It almost seems that Butke will be a buffer between Morehouse and Hextall
- Beatnic57

And that's why Im not freaking out about his hire. It doesnt mean Burke is going to be front and center of each player decision. I figured Lemieux would want someone from the old guard.

Im more interested in Hextall hiring assistant GMs than I am about Burke.

Agreed, but if the Rags would trade him for Matheson straight up, do you do it? I would
- Beatnic57

Hell yes.

Agreed, but if the Rags would trade him for Matheson straight up, do you do it? I would
- Beatnic57

Haha I think it would take a convo with him about his behaviour. We don’t have a Kreider to stop him from beating up jarry. But yeah I think I would do it. I think he’d love to spite nyr and play damn hard.

And that's why Im not freaking out about his hire. It doesnt mean Burke is going to be front and center of each player decision. I figured Lemieux would want someone from the old guard.

Im more interested in Hextall hiring assistant GMs than I am about Burke.
- SuperHenderson13

I forgot the link to the article I was referring to, to come to that conclusion... apologizes

Yeah... No way does Hextall takes the job to have Burke put his fat head into player decisions.
- madmike71

Yeah that's what I think.

Was just doing a little digging and several other teams have one. Tampa has one who is not BriseBois yet he's always the one that is credited for their moves. Minnesota just hired one and Guerin isn't in trouble. Burke will have a role, but Hextall should be the one making the calls.

It is “per se”. Just got told this:

“President of hockey ops overlooks everything from contracts to scouting to gm to who talks to the media and what they say to coaching hires and fires so yes he would be a “higher rank” then Hextall if that’s what you are asking. Trust me Hextall doesn’t take fuuck all and if he wasn’t in full control he wouldn’t have accepted the GM role. What I’m hearing so far is this was Hextalls decision to bring Burke with him. As arrogant as Burke can seem he somehow knows lots about everything and knows everybody in hockey circles which is exactly what you need your president of hockey ops to do. I fully expected Hextall as GM like I text you the first minute Rutherford was gone but didn’t expect or hear of Burke at all which is almost a guarantee Hextall wants him there. As weird as it is having those 2 run it together, I think the pens absolutely nailed this big time! These 2 together could be fuucckkin sick for your boys I’m calling it now! I’d bet Gallant, Gilman and Futa will all be connected to the pens sooner then later if they want to be.”
- pens4life-66

Thanks for the insight.

New blog up

Agreed, but if the Rags would trade him for Matheson straight up, do you do it? I would
- Beatnic57

Nope and I don’t think the Rangers would either. They’re content to buy him out worse comes to worse.

Agreed, but if the Rags would trade him for Matheson straight up, do you do it? I would
- Beatnic57

Yes, easy decision (and I abhor DeAngelo). The difference in buyout terms is enormous, which is what should be done for both. If they Rags think Matheson could be a serviceable 2LD, they might, considering DeAngelo just passed through waivers. But that's a huge "if" and not likely. Then again, they did sign JJ to $1.15M this year. Also, Smith and JJ are expiring and it looks like they just have Lindgren and Miller at LD next year (and a couple of depth guys). Look at me getting my hopes up.

GMRH doesnt have the same ring to it as GMJR. Bad hire.