Ron Hextall, general manager
Age 56… Spent four years (2014-18) as GM of the Philadelphia Flyers, assembling a roster that has blossomed into a Stanley Cup contender. …. Hextall was assistant GM of the Los Angeles Kings (2006-13), winning a Stanley Cup ring in ‘12 and being part of the build-up to another Cup winner two years later. … Early management experience came in the Flyers scouting department (1999-2006). … He returned to the Kings as an advisor the past two years … Spent all but 11 of his 13 playing seasons with the Flyers, retiring as the organization’s leader in goalie wins (240) while winning Calder (rookie of year) and Conn Smythe (playoffs MVP) while leading Philadelphia to the Stanley Cup Final in 1987. … Five-time All-Star. … Played one season each for the Quebec Nordiques and New York Islanders. … Won 296 regular-season and 45 postseason games, beating the Penguins 23 times.
Brian Burke, president of hockey operations
Age 65. … Has more than three decades of management experience, working in the front offices of five NHL teams. GM of the Anaheim Ducks when they won the Stanley Cup in 2007. Served as GM and/or president of hockey operations for the Vancouver Canucks, Hartford Whalers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Calgary Flames. … Spent five years in the 1990s as executive vice president and director of hockey operations for NHL, serving as the league’s disciplinarian under commissioner Gary Bettman … Among trademark moves were trades that engineered the drafting of the Sedin twins for the Canucks in 1999 and acquisition of Phil Kessel to the Maple Leafs in 2009. The former turned Vancouver into a Western Conference power; the latter was widely panned (two of the three high draft picks sent to the Boston Bruins netted All-Stars). … Burke has worked for Canadian broadcaster Sportsnet since 2018, notably on “Hockey Night in Canada.”
