Ryan Wilson: The Burke store called and they're running out of you The Burke store called and they're running out of you

Ryan Wilson: The Burke store called and they're running out of you
The Burke store called and they're running out of you
- Ryan_Wilson

Gold medal on the headline.

Take the rest of the day off.

Uh oh!

Hextall is a good hire. I'm sure he had time to digest his time in Philly and I hope Pittsburgh gets the new and improved version. Burke is a bit old school in his approach, no idea how that will go. That being said, I like the guy, he is not afraid to speak his mind and I hope he does well for the Pens.

i like the hire. anything was better than GMJR at this point.

Burke definitely isn’t going to like coach just play.

Does anyone really think Hextall would take the job if Burke is going to make all of the decisions? I see Burke as nothing more than an experienced guy that Lemieux/Burkle wanted around to hold their hands. Im not reading too much into it besides the entertainment factor.

PIT window is closing. They are going to have to get bad at some point unless they make trades that fill the holes left by Crosby and Malkin.

Im obviously not familiar with the prospect PIT has but chances are PIT doesnt have anyone that could step in and keep this team competitive if Crosby and Malkin retired today. Just thinking of them retiring makes me feel old.....

It isnt impossible that Hexy could pull off a retool but thats going to be easier said than done. I think a rebuild in 4-5 years is likely where the team is heading.

I also think Burke is here to push Hextall to move faster. That was a big issue I''ve read... that Hextall did a good job fixing the Flyers, but he moved slower than people wanted.

Does anyone really think Hextall would take the job if Burke is going to make all of the decisions? I see Burke as nothing more than an experienced guy that Lemieux/Burkle wanted around to hold their hands. Im not reading too much into it besides the entertainment factor.
- SuperHenderson13

I think Burke appropriately replaces that hack Morehouse. Morehouse never did anything to deserve his position. He's not a hockey guy.

One thing I think is clearly obvious (I don’t care what Hextall says to the media) is these 2 together will have a clear plan. Those interviews aren’t meant to talk about fishing spots and stocks. Both Hextall and Burke have been around hockey long enough they didn’t just say “ya pick me, we will flip some coins and see what happens”

I’m stoked about both of these hires in both the roles. Now... go get Gallant sooner then later!

I brought up a couple weeks ago how other teams, pens players and a new pens assistant coach said the pens were the easiest team in the league to play against and I do feel this will be dealt with. I said Dubas would be fired before he ever won anything if he thinks he’s gonna fly by with all analytics. But I honestly think he’s learning with picking up guys like (Thornton, Simmonds, Muzzin, Brodie, Bogosian) and I think the leafs are a much better team currently with those guys even though 3 of the 5 aren’t great anymore to say the least.

Does anyone really think Hextall would take the job if Burke is going to make all of the decisions? I see Burke as nothing more than an experienced guy that Lemieux/Burkle wanted around to hold their hands. Im not reading too much into it besides the entertainment factor.
- SuperHenderson13

You are assuming he had any knowledge of this. Higher ups dont tend to share hiring information with the lower employees in terms of the position being filled

PIT window is closing. They are going to have to get bad at some point unless they make trades that fill the holes left by Crosby and Malkin.

Im obviously not familiar with the prospect PIT has but chances are PIT doesnt have anyone that could step in and keep this team competitive if Crosby and Malkin retired today. Just thinking of them retiring makes me feel old.....

It isnt impossible that Hexy could pull off a retool but thats going to be easier said than done. I think a rebuild in 4-5 years is likely where the team is heading.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

Hextall's first order of business will be to move some contracts. Old man Rutherford made some bad deals towards the end of his tenure.

You are assuming he had any knowledge of this. Higher ups dont tend to share hiring information with the lower employees in terms of the position being filled
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

If Hextall took the job without knowing what his role versus Burke's role would be, I think Hextall is insane for coming here.

If Hextall took the job without knowing what his role versus Burke's role would be, I think Hextall is insane for coming here.
- SuperHenderson13

Hahahaha Hextall of all people would not have just went in blind accepting whatever comes his way.

Thanks for your info thus far. Your insight into how you expect the Hextall-Burke dynamic to play out kept me from plunging into the Potomac. Don’t care if Hextall wants him there to work likes. I care a lot if ownership wanted him there to be above Hextall.

Also excited that your buddy has Gallant and Futa linked to us. There’s more promise here than there’s been in a while.

Hextall's first order of business will be to move some contracts. Old man Rutherford made some bad deals towards the end of his tenure.
- SuperHenderson13

There's really only one bad contract on the roster. Every other player has value at his cap hit. Letang might be sketchy considering his play this season.

There's really only one bad contract on the roster. Every other player has value at his cap hit. Letang might be sketchy considering his play this season.
- madmike71

Or is a wash in value, which is fine.

Thanks for your info thus far. Your insight into how you expect the Hextall-Burke dynamic to play out kept me from plunging into the Potomac. Don’t care if Hextall wants him there to work likes. I care a lot if ownership wanted him there to be above Hextall.

Also excited that your buddy has Gallant and Futa linked to us. There’s more promise here than there’s been in a while.
- Victoro311

Ya I was super stoked on Hextall all along but wasn’t sure on Burke. But my buddy seems to think it’s a perfect fit so makes me much happier. He did say he thinks Futa will wait for a GM role now or somewhere where he can step into GM shortly after. Oddly enough though, I might be remembering wrong but I think Futa turned down the canes GM role. See how it goes but I for 1 can say I’m pumped on this!

Morehouse confirmed Burke was Mario's idea.

One thing I think is clearly obvious (I don’t care what Hextall says to the media) is these 2 together will have a clear plan. Those interviews aren’t meant to talk about fishing spots and stocks. Both Hextall and Burke have been around hockey long enough they didn’t just say “ya pick me, we will flip some coins and see what happens”

I’m stoked about both of these hires in both the roles. Now... go get Gallant sooner then later!

I brought up a couple weeks ago how other teams, pens players and a new pens assistant coach said the pens were the easiest team in the league to play against and I do feel this will be dealt with. I said Dubas would be fired before he ever won anything if he thinks he’s gonna fly by with all analytics. But I honestly think he’s learning with picking up guys like (Thornton, Simmonds, Muzzin, Brodie, Bogosian) and I think the leafs are a much better team currently with those guys even though 3 of the 5 aren’t great anymore to say the least.
- pens4life-66

Good post. And isn't it ironic that JR's mission was to get players that are "hard to play against" and yet he ends up with "the easiest team in the league to play against"? I think this is where the analytics meets the road and the road wins. I don't care what your CF% if you can't (or won't) get near the crease and you can't clear the crease. But hey, as long as you can transition up ice...

There's really only one bad contract on the roster. Every other player has value at his cap hit. Letang might be sketchy considering his play this season.
- madmike71

Honestly, the way Malkin has played, $9.5M for this year and next in Covid times is tough for another team to swallow for a soon-to-be 35 year old with a history of injuries.

“I can’t tell you what’s coming our way. I can’t. To be definitive in a direction … in my interviews, we talked about all kinds of scenarios.”

I like this quote the best. Leaving all options open. I know he probably had to say that, but I believe him and I appreciate that different scenarios were brought up.

I think Gallant could really right this ship.

Love both signings. I love contrarian moves and strategies. Size and toughness still plays huge roll in the NHL. While "writer" of these blogs, who don't go to games nor have original reporting and only regurgitate others, its hard to take any of this seriously.