THN.com/podcast. From THN On The 'A': Projecting Notable AHL Prospects with Byron Bader Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTk3MjQ2ODE4MTM0Nzk1NTgz/usatsi_18659876.jpg] The Pittsburgh Penguins missed the NHL playoffs for the first time since 2005-06, and they're making changes in the front office as a result. Fenway Sports Group, who owns a majority of the Penguins, announced it is parting ways with GM Ron Hextall along with president of hockey operations Brian Burke and assistant GM Chris Pryor. The search for replacements begins immediately. “We are grateful to Brian, Ron, and Chris for their contributions to the organization over the past two seasons, but we feel that the team will benefit from new hockey operations leadership,” said a statement attributed to John Henry and Tom Werner, the founders of Fenway Sports Group. “While this season has been disappointing, we believe in our core group of players, and the goal of contending for the Stanley Cup has not changed.” In the meantime, the managerial duties will be shared by director of hockey operations Alec Schall, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins GM Erik Heasley, and hockey operations analyst Andy Saucier. Coach Mike Sullivan is staying around as well and will help with the transition. Burke and Hextall were hired in February 2021 to push for a Stanley Cup right away. The Penguins finished the 2020-21 season first in the East Division but lost in the first round. They also lost in the first round of the 2021-22 playoffs while finishing third in the Metropolitan Division. Analysis: The news does not exactly come as a shock, given the turbulent season the Penguins just had. Given that Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang are all under contract for the foreseeable future and each put together healthy and extremely productive campaigns, a playoff birth was the bare minimum expectation for the Penguins in 2022-23. Hextall and Burke, of course, failed to meet that goal, struggling mightily to surround their talented core with a supporting cast capable of easing the load every once in a while. And when given a chance to make significant upgrades at the trade deadline in a last-ditch effort, Hextall and Burke balked once again, ultimately acquiring only Mikael Granlund, who scored just five points in his 21 games as a Penguin to close out the season and remains under contract through 2024-25 at a cap hit of $5 million. With Fenway Sports Group at the helm, the Penguins will likely share no expense in their search for the next candidate to oversee the final years of the Crosby era. - Mike Stephens
