I honestly don't want Hextall involved in any change.
- madmike71

Haha that change could be anything- including the firing of Hextall…. Something!

Best trade we can make at the deadline. A 1st plus Hextall to any team that will take him

Haha that change could be anything- including the firing of Hextall…. Something!
- Willaged

I think the fire Hextall chants definitely will get Hex's attention and it probably will get the owners attention as well. Especially when no one shows up to the next few games until there is a change.

As fans we’ve been so spoiled for so long.

The downward spiral is still depressing even with three cups.

Rust kinda sucks and they have 5 more years oh him.

Poj….idk he’s better than dumo but he’s really not special. Just cheap and better than others.
- sammy87

Keep in mind, POJ is technically a rookie this season. I think he’s earned a spot as the 2nd pairing. From my “eye test” he seems to have improved a lot since last season.

If anyone wants Petry, give him away. I’d rather see that money spent fixing the bottom 6. Im hoping Zucker resigns, but I can’t see any other team giving him what he makes now. If Carter and Kapanen could somehow get dumped, I’d love Zucker on the 3rd line with a guy like Max Domi centering the line

How the mighty have fallen........At this point they cannot make enough changes to challenge anyone who they might draw in Round One if they made the playoffs. They do not have the horses and more and there is not one team that they could possibly beat in Round One even if they got lucky. No longer are they feared or respected and the lack of front office direction is very evident. It looks like Biden is running the ship and we all know how that works out

Im scared of what Hextall might do to our future if he is involved in any changes.
Ditto that for Burke. Burke wants a big plodding size oriented team. Thats not the way the game is played anymore.
They both can go.
Sully is a good coach but has gone stale. A change on the bench a month ago wouldnt have been an absurd idea, but too much $ tied up in HC-MS.
Pens need to punt on this year, dump some cap, and retool for one more kick at can in 2023-24 or 2024-25.
Shame we cant get a rant like this from Sully
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7aDhhamxm0
Funny How Therrien's rant would apply to what we see these days

I am honestly getting 2014 vibes where I wanted things to go as badly as possible because I knew this team wouldnt be close to another Cup with Dan Bylsma leading them. I got my wish with the Rangers series collapse and it worked out.

At this point, I think things need to be equally bad to convince FSG that this team needs major changes and also to convince Crosby/Malkin/Letang that this team isnt one or even two players away from competing. This team isnt even in the same arena as the top teams in the East.

They have a long road to even be eligible to take Bedard, but selling for futures and then reinvesting those futures should be the route.

Keep in mind, POJ is technically a rookie this season. I think he’s earned a spot as the 2nd pairing. From my “eye test” he seems to have improved a lot since last season.

If anyone wants Petry, give him away. I’d rather see that money spent fixing the bottom 6. Im hoping Zucker resigns, but I can’t see any other team giving him what he makes now. If Carter and Kapanen could somehow get dumped, I’d love Zucker on the 3rd line with a guy like Max Domi centering the line
- drummer829

I get it he’s fine but if there’s a deal to be made I don’t think the future rides on poj.

Hex is in a corner…he misses the playoffs he’s likely gone. So he needs to start dealing.

I really don’t think he sees the situation as that fire unfortunately.

He just pissed away 1 more yr of 87/71. Ticket sales are down and his track record doesn’t seem like there’s much light.

This is probably a weird tough place for any GM to be in...and Hex has a lot of blame for it, for sure...but you have a team that believes in themselves and thinks they're good, wants to win now and expects to win now, but just aren't getting W's. They have had a two month period of this season of looking great, so that might have them thinking they're better than they are, or maybe they are better than they have been the past two months. I think they are. The team is only 4 points out of 1st wild card with 4 games in hand and only 1 point out of the 2nd wild card tied in games with the Wings. The TDL is in 7 days. Playoff streak on the line. First season with new owners. That's a lot to consider for a GM hahaha. If he starts selling off what does the core think? I dont think he has the balls to do it.

This isn't the first time the Pens, and this core and coach, have been down in the bottom 3rd of the East's standings in February...

I still think they can turn this around. Something in my gut tells me they have more than this, are better than this and will snap out of it....I ask myself is this denial hahaha...no, I dont think it is. Once again, I will say I do not think they are a top contender at all,not even close...but I do think they are a lot better than the past few months and will show it.

I have no doubt this team feels like they can win. I believe a change needs to be made. If grinder is correct and the team doesn't want Dumo moved. I think that is the bigger problem. There are no consequences to poor play unless you are someone like Kap or Heinen who are in the dog house. Carter should have been healthy scratched multiple times this season and should be on the 4th line. I think the players feel too comfortable currently. I'm not saying they aren't upset with these losing streaks; however, what I am saying is I think Hex needs to move a bunch of players out and shake up the locker room a bit. He should definitely be a seller at this point (I think we all agree even a hybrid method of this makes sense at this point).

Do I think we can climb back in the standings and make the playoffs? Yes. It is gonna take work, changes, and solid goaltending for this to occur. All of which (except them putting in the hard work) hasn't happened.

Was really hoping to to wake up to a fired GM…

Was really hoping to to wake up to a fired GM…
- JLT168

I've been pondering just how hands on, or in tune, FSG are with the Pens. Do they have anyone from their side of things overlooking the team daily or in close proximity?

Was really hoping to to wake up to a fired GM…
- JLT168

You’re giving Hextall way too much credit for the recent struggles

SELL SELL SELL

Im scared of what Hextall might do to our future if he is involved in any changes.
Ditto that for Burke. Burke wants a big plodding size oriented team. Thats not the way the game is played anymore.
They both can go.
Sully is a good coach but has gone stale. A change on the bench a month ago wouldnt have been an absurd idea, but too much $ tied up in HC-MS.
Pens need to punt on this year, dump some cap, and retool for one more kick at can in 2023-24 or 2024-25.
Shame we cant get a rant like this from Sully
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7aDhhamxm0
Funny How Therrien's rant would apply to what we see these days
- Amanion

The NHL is about speed and we were taken to school last night by a young and fast team. We need cheetahs not elephants.

Rob Rossi (so take it with a grain of salt) is saying that Sullivan asked Hextall for Jakob Chychrun. Hextall is not convinced because Arizona want our 2025 and 2026 1st round picks.

IMO, really smart by Arizona. I doubt Hextall would trade 2023 and 2024 has the potential to be a good rebound year for the Penguins if they fall flat. However, 2025 and 2026 could be prime years for the Penguins to struggle, especially if any of our core falls off.

I honestly dont know what to think of the trade. The picks for me would have to be top 5 protected at least. Im not willing to gamble with picks that far out without some type of protection. I can also appreciate Hextall not just throwing away long term assets that could potentially save his job. He either feels comfortable in his role or he is a much better steward than Rutherford was. Rutherford would've made the deal already and not thought twice.

You’re giving Hextall way too much credit for the recent struggles
- Feds91Stammer

in some ways yes some no...from the start of the season they were a very streaky team. couple good win streaks followed by losing streaks. the problems now are from the top down, sid and jakes line is non existent, geno's line rarely drives play, we're just hoping the 3rd and 4th lines don't get scored on but we know they won't be scoring many if any goals.

I think management took the easy way out in some ways resigning the core. it felt good I suppose at the time, kept everything copasetic, and had these guys signed elsewhere we'd get nothing in return other than cap space. but the window is very clearly closed after this last month of uninspired hockey.

maybe they find a way to get hot again here down the stretch but I just don't see it happening.

I remember the other times the Pens were way down the conference standings/out of playoffs this time of year the team would have closed door meetings and no media availability and what not. Any signs of that yet?

in some ways yes some no...from the start of the season they were a very streaky team. couple good win streaks followed by losing streaks. the problems now are from the top down, sid and jakes line is non existent, geno's line rarely drives play, we're just hoping the 3rd and 4th lines don't get scored on but we know they won't be scoring many if any goals.

I think management took the easy way out in some ways resigning the core. it felt good I suppose at the time, kept everything copasetic, and had these guys signed elsewhere we'd get nothing in return other than cap space. but the window is very clearly closed after this last month of uninspired hockey.

maybe they find a way to get hot again here down the stretch but I just don't see it happening.
- JLT168

I don't think Hextall is a good GM but this was going to be an average team outside of the unlikely full maximization of the teams depth. Could they have gotten a Strome, Kubalik, Perron, etc.? We know outsiders tend to not have the greatest interest in signing with the Pens.

I remember the other times the Pens were way down the conference standings/out of playoffs this time of year the team would have closed door meetings and no media availability and what not. Any signs of that yet?
- MattStrat

You would expect something like that happening today.

Unless he fires Sully the day before FSG fires him.

As long as I'm being ridiculous, I'd really like a Ferrari and a unicorn as well lol
- Pags

Come on, Ferrari's aren't real.

Come on, Ferrari's aren't real.
- jmatchett383

Ferrari's are lame. Real men drive trucks.

Ferrari's are lame. Real men drive trucks.
- Feds91Stammer

I drive a tank.

I don't need roads, I make them.

I drive a tank.

I don't need roads, I make them.
- jmatchett383

7:05

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EytFPaPM8fw