Penguins GM Ron Hextall is known for his deliberate managing style yet he admitted that replacing Goaltenders Coach Mike Buckley with Andy Chiodo as a gut decision.
“When you make decisions like that a lot of it is what your gut tells you,” Hextall told the Pittsburgh media Thursday. “Obviously when you make decisions of this magnitude, you talk to all your people and I certainly got opinions from all our people. In the end just felt like we needed a change.”
But that change isn’t all that drastic seeing as Chiodo has been a developmental coach with the Penguins, working with goaltenders in the AHL and also prospects in the North American junior leagues and Europe.
“Obviously, we had Andy sitting right there and with his experience and knowledge of the organization and the goaltenders he was the right guy,” Hextall said. “Talking to a lot of the people around here, not a bad word was said about him.”
“(I like) his attention to detail on our prospects and our goalies in Wilkes-Barre down to the mental side of it I just like what he brings. I felt comfortable he’s the right guy” Hextall continued. “Andy’s job now is predominantly the two guys on the big team so hopefully we can make some little tweaks and like I said the mental side of the game is a huge part of it and Andy is well aware of that.”
The mental side of it is going to be key with Tristan Jarry coming off that dreadful playoff series against the Islanders. Hextall thinks that the “trials and tribulations” that Chiodo experienced throughout his mostly minor league career will be a plus mentoring Jarry.
“He’s still a young goalie that’s learning and I believe he will learn a lot from last year and I really like what Andy will bring,” Hextall added. “When you’re a goaltender, and I’ve lived it, there are disappointments that you have to get over and bounce back from and I feel strongly that Tristan’s going to bounce back and be a very good goaltender for us the entire year.”
As for the Penguins’ other goalie, Casey DeSmith – whose core injury prevented him from replacing a struggling Jarry in the playoffs, Hextall says DeSmith should be good to go next month. “Watched him for a few minutes on the ice (Wednesday)” Hextall said. “He’s back taking shot and looked terrific. I chatted with him briefly and everything is going very well so I anticipate him being 100 percent long before training camp.”