“Doesn’t impact me at all” – Ron Hextall gives clear-cut reply to fans following “Fire Hextall” chant at PPG Paints Arena

Despite the urgency the Penguins need in roster change, GM Ron Hextall seems pretty unfazed as he refuses to listen to any advice pertaining to changes in the roster.

<strong>“Doesn’t impact me at all” – Ron Hextall gives clear-cut reply to fans following “Fire Hextall” chant at PPG Paints Arena</strong>

Ron Hextall [Image Credit: NHL]

Instead of an upward rise, the Penguins skated down the ranks with another defeat added to their book. General manager Ron Hextall took the heaviest blow, but it seems like the fan’s shouts fell on deaf ears. 

It’s been quite a time since the Penguins’ head coach asked to add players to their roster, but Hextall is bent on ignoring all the calls. The PPG Paints Arena vibrated with chants of “Fire Hextall” on Thursday, following the team’s defeat against visiting Edmonton Oilers. 

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The team fell to Oilers in a 2-7 loss, looking exhausted running after the puck in all three periods. It seemed like the Pens barely touched the puck in the evening, as it only skidded to the Oilers’ hand. Following their chants in the arena, they took enthusiasm down on Twitter, restarting the whole cycle again. 

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Related: “Pathetic performance” – Mike Sullivan blasts team as Oilers choke Penguins with DISASTROUS 7-2 win at PPG Paints Arena

Rob Hextall refuses to listen to Mike Sullivan regarding Jakob Chychrun’s trade

Mike Sullivan and Ron Hextall [Image Credit: SportsUnfold/HockeyFeed]
Mike Sullivan and Ron Hextall [Image Credit: SportsUnfold/HockeyFeed]

It’s been 16 years since the Penguins continuously made Stanley Cup Playoff runs. Unfortunately, it seems that’ll be the first time the Pens fail to grab a wild card spot for the Eastern Conference. The Oilers took advantage of the Penguins’ loose netminding, as they shot one after another puck behind Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith.

Despite the fan’s outcries, Ron Hextall remains to stay still ignoring all pleas, “It doesn’t impact me at all. I understand the fans’ frustrations. We have high expectations as well, and we haven’t met them”. “So I totally get it. When you’re a GM, you know what you’re signing up for.” 

“We work in the public eye, and they pay good money to come to the rink, and they certainly have the right to say whatever they choose. So it’s not going to affect anything I do or don’t …. since I was 22 and came into the league, criticism is part of the business, and you have to deal with it.”

“Our intent is to continue to try to make this team better this year and years beyond this year. We want to stay competitive. We made that commitment last summer with our core”. 

“Those (core) guys have played well. I guess the hardest part about our team right now is probably the volatility. It’s a tough one, quite frankly, to put a finger on.”

The Penguins will now take on an equally struggling team, the St. Louis Blues whose head coach Craig Berube blasted them after their loss against Vancouver Canucks. Rob Rossi of The Athletic reported that Pens coach Mike Sullivan wanted Hextall to trade for Jakob Chychrun, but it fell on deaf ears.

According to Rob, Sullivan “wants Hextall to trade for Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun, but Hextall has balked at a potential deal because the Coyotes have asked the Penguins to include 2025 and 2026 first-round draft choices as part of any package, according to two team sources briefed on Hextall’s thinking.”

Even though Jakob is one of the most sought players currently in the trade market, Hextall wants to keep going with the present team. Hextall said that he is not interested in surrendering any future first-round picks before or at the trade deadline.

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