Ron Hextall is a former professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 13 seasons. He was known for his aggressive style of play and his ability to handle the puck, which made him a valuable asset to his teams.
Hextall began his NHL career with the Philadelphia Flyers in 1986, where he quickly established himself as one of the league's top goaltenders. He won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's best goaltender in his rookie season, becoming the first player to do so since 1961. He also helped lead the Flyers to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1987, although they ultimately lost to the Edmonton Oilers.
After spending seven seasons with the Flyers, Hextall was traded to the Quebec Nordiques in 1992. He played just one season with the Nordiques before being traded again, this time to the New York Islanders. He spent two seasons with the Islanders before being traded back to the Flyers in 1994.
Hextall played another four seasons with the Flyers before being traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in 1999. He played just one season with the Hurricanes before retiring from the NHL in 2000.
After retiring as a player, Hextall began working in NHL management. He served as the assistant general manager of the Flyers from 1999 to 2006, and then as the director of player personnel for the Los Angeles Kings from 2006 to 2013. In 2013, he was named the general manager of the Flyers, a position he held until 2018.
During his time as general manager of the Flyers, Hextall oversaw a rebuilding process that saw the team draft several promising young players. However, he was ultimately fired in 2018 due to disagreements with the team's ownership over the direction of the franchise.
Overall, Hextall's NHL career was marked by his aggressive style of play and his ability to handle the puck. He was a highly respected goaltender who was known for his competitiveness and his leadership on and off the ice.
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