A mere 13 hours after their 82nd and final game of the season ended in a loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, ranked 30th, the Penguins made some significant moves.
Fenway Sports Group announced the dismissal of President of Hockey Operations Brian Burke, General Manager Ron Hextall, and Assistant General Manager Chris Pryor from their positions.
The Penguins issued this statement:
"John Henry and Tom Werner expressed their gratitude to Brian, Ron, and Chris for their efforts over the past two seasons, but believe new hockey operations leadership is needed for the team's future success.
Despite the disappointing season, they maintain faith in the core group of players and remain committed to pursuing the Stanley Cup."
The organization also announced that the search for new hockey operations personnel will begin without delay.
These changes mark a period of significant transformation for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the firings appear to be well-justified.