When Ron Hextall who was hired by the Penguins in February of 2021 was pressed recently, about how his head coach and his players were working together, his answer was empathetic to the core.
As a player, Hextall never shied away from difficult situations and in fact, took them head-on and ran with them; from being the first goalie to ever score a goal at the National Hockey League level to participating in five goalie fights throughout his career, it was evident during his playing days he'd do anything to support his teammates and now during somewhat unfamiliar times in Pittsburgh, he went to bat for his long-time bench boss.