I'm Just Wondering

DOubt it considering he signed a 3 year EXT

Let's look at the Pens last few first round exits:

1) 2018/2019 Season - 1st round exit again NYI. No excuses in this series. Pens played like crap and the Islanders brought their A-game. Lots of blame to go around, players and coaching staff. The Pens just looked flat and lifeless.

2) 2019/2020 - 1st round exist against MTL. While the Pens actually played well against MTL and outplayed MTL, the Pens were still missing something. They didn't have the hunger and MTL did. Could you blame Sully on this one? Definitely some blame on him, but the Pens also didn't elevate their game. Again, that hunger wasn't there.

3) 2020/2021 - 1st round exit against NYI. Can't blame Sully on this one. The Pens outright outplayed the Isles and Jarry just wasn't ready yet. Goaltending sunk that series, no Sullivan. The Pens were really good.

4) 2021/2022 - 1st round exist against the Rangers. Pens dominated this series, but had their 3rd string goalie for most of it, Sid out for a few games and lost Rakell for the whole series. This was just bad luck.

Maybe it's the players. But right or wrong, Pens management (though I wouldn't consider Burke or Hextall even competent), thought going with Malkin and Letang for more excessive term and $ was a good idea.

I think Hextall and Burke are gone after this season if they don't win a series, as they should be.