The Pittsburgh Penguins have begun conducting interviews to fill their vacant general manager position, with Kevin Weekes of NHL Network and interim GM Patrik Allvin reportedly among the first few. Chris Drury, who had been considered a top candidate withdrew his name from consideration, wanting to remain with the New York Rangers instead. The Penguins were also denied access to New Jersey Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald.
Today, more reports have emerged to clarify the remaining candidates. Darren Dreger of TSN tweets that Ron Hextall will have a virtual interview with the Penguins brass today, after the team received permission from the Los Angeles Kings to speak with him. Hextall currently works as an advisor for the Kings, but was previously the GM of the Philadelphia Flyers. The Penguins did not however receive permission from the Seattle Kraken to speak with Jason Botterill, according to Bob McKenzie of TSN. Botterill, who previously served as an assistant GM in Pittsburgh, recently took an AGM position with the expansion franchise after losing his job as GM of the Buffalo Sabres.
There are many other candidates expected to be involved, but things are expected to progress quickly. The Penguins are hoping to have a GM in place in the coming weeks, though that is obviously made more difficult by the fact that the season is in progress and the travel requirements/protocols to have anyone interview in person.
Did Botterill make any good moves with Buffalo? I cannot recall any. Yinzers pine after him like he didn’t fail pretty badly with the Sabres.
Hextall would be the best candidate if they want to rebuild. I doubt they do.
Just hire an entire NHL Tonight shift. Weekes as GM. Mike Rupp as AGM. Tony Luftman can sharpen skates.
Two moves were good, but then one was tarnished by a separate blunder.
Getting a 40 G scorer for Pu and change was an unqualified success. Later, signing Skinner to a $9gazillion contract … well that was regrettable.
Ask a Blackhawks fan if they’d redo the trade that got them Nylander for Jokiharju? Any objective review of that deal says Botts did right.
He screwed up player development, the “Cap Guru” saddled the team with the afore mentioned contract. He complied with the Owners’ dictate to dump ROR. A lot not to like, but it wasn’t ALL bad.
Come on a tv hockey analyst given a interview so way not brian burke it maybe makes more sense then Kevin Weekes..
I will throw out some names Darcy Regier, Tim Murray !!