Rumor: Ron Hextall being linked to another GM position.

There is at least one team in the National Hockey League that will be conducting a search for a new general manager during their offseason and one of the biggest names now being linked to that GM search is that of former Philadelphia Flyers general manager Ron Hextall. 

During a recent segment of Saturday night's Headlines, Sportsnet NHL insider Elliotte Friedman revealed some of the names that have thus far been linked to the Florida Panthers following their decision to let long time executive Dale Tallon walk after his contract expired this year. Although there were several notable names mentioned by Friedman it should come as no surprise that a big personality like Ron Hextall stood out among the rest. Friedman first discussed the names he was able to confirm officially given that the Panthers had made formal request to interview many of these candidates from rival NHL teams.

"The people I understand they have asked for, and received permission to interview, are Chris Drury of the New York Rangers, Michael Futa who is a free agent and Scott Mellanby of Montreal, it is also expected for John Ferguson in Boston and Laurence Gillman in Toronto," said Friedman during the broadcast. 

Friedman followed that up by going into some other names he had heard linked to the Florida Panthers, although he did admit that he was unable to confirm these ones 100%.

"A couple of names I can't confirm one way or another, but I've heard their names out there, Ron Hextall the former Philly GM in L.A. and Ross Mahoney in Washington, but again I am not sure where that is going right now."

Hextall is a big name not only because of his legacy on the ice with the Philadelphia Flyers, but also due to the fact that when you look at the current form of the Flyers it is impossible not to see Hextall's fingerprints all over that roster. Everyone in Philadelphia is raving about goaltender Carter Hart and it was Hextall who made that selection and that is only the beginning. The current Flyers roster is now loaded with what look like shrewd selections from Hextall including Ivan Provorov, Travis Konecny, Travis Sanheim and Joel Farabee. Although he received his fair share of criticism for some of his other decisions, and rightfully so, Hextall also navigated the Flyers out of cap trouble after he inherited an ugly situation from the previous Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren. 

Despite the negative perception some may have of his tenure in Philadelphia, do not be surprised if we see Ron Hextall ascend to the position of general manager again in the National Hockey League.