Ron Hextall's tenure as the Pittsburgh Penguins' general manager, from February 2021 to March 2023, was marked by a series of decisions that have sparked considerable debate and scrutiny. Inheriting a team with a veteran core and limited cap space, Hextall aimed to maintain competitiveness while also replenishing the team's prospect pool. However, his moves have been a mixed bag, with some proving to be beneficial and others drawing criticism for their negative impact on the team.

Best Moves:

• Rickard Rakell Trade: Arguably Hextall's best move was acquiring Rickard Rakell from the Anaheim Ducks at the 2022 trade deadline. In exchange for Zach Aston-Reese, Dominik Simon, Calle Clang, and a 2022 second-round pick, the Penguins landed a top-six winger who provided much-needed scoring. Rakell has consistently performed well with the team, amassing 86 goals and 107 assists in 270 games. He was later re-signed to a six-year, $30 million contract.
• Re-signing Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang: With Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang set to become free agents in the 2022 offseason, Hextall successfully re-signed both franchise cornerstones. Letang signed a six-year, $36.6 million contract, while Malkin inked a four-year, $24.4 million deal. These signings ensured that the Penguins retained their core leadership and talent.

Worst Moves:

• Jared McCann Trade: One of Hextall's most criticized moves was trading Jared McCann to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Filip Hallander and a 2023 seventh-round pick. This move was made to alleviate a cap crunch and protect other players in the expansion draft. McCann went on to score 40 goals for the Seattle Kraken in their inaugural season, while Hallander has yet to make a significant impact in the NHL. The decision to protect Jeff Carter and Kasperi Kapanen over McCann proved to be a costly error.
• Jeff Carter Re-signing: While the initial acquisition of Jeff Carter in 2021 provided a boost to the Penguins' depth, re-signing him to a two-year, $6.25 million contract was widely questioned. Carter's performance declined significantly after signing the extension, and his cap hit became a burden for the team.
• Mikael Granlund Trade: Hextall's acquisition of Mikael Granlund from the Nashville Predators for a second-round pick at the 2023 trade deadline was viewed as a desperate attempt to make the playoffs. Granlund struggled to produce after joining the Penguins, and his $5 million cap hit became a problem for the team. He was later traded to the San Jose Sharks as part of the Erik Karlsson trade.
• Kasperi Kapanen Re-signing: Despite Kapanen's inconsistent performance, Hextall re-signed him to a two-year, $6.4 million contract in the 2022 offseason. Kapanen continued to struggle and was eventually placed on waivers.

Other Considerations:

• Expansion Draft: Hextall's handling of the 2021 expansion draft was also criticized. In addition to trading McCann, the Penguins lost Brandon Tanev to the Seattle Kraken after protecting Carter and Kapanen. Tanev's energy and forechecking were missed in the Penguins' bottom six.
• Defensive Acquisitions: Hextall's attempts to improve the Penguins' defense were largely unsuccessful. The trade that brought Jeff Petry and Ryan Poehling in exchange for Mike Matheson and a fourth-round pick did not significantly improve the team's blueline. The decision to trade John Marino for Ty Smith and a third-round pick also backfired, as Marino thrived with the New Jersey Devils while Smith struggled to find a consistent role with the Penguins.

Hextall's tenure in Pittsburgh was a complex mix of successes and failures. While he made some positive moves, such as acquiring Rakell and re-signing Malkin and Letang, his tenure was ultimately defined by questionable trades and signings that hindered the team's long-term prospects.