Lombardi: Hextall 'clearly paid his dues'

GM Dean Lombardi shares, via LA Kings Insider, his thoughts on former Kings assistant GM Ron Hextall's appointment to the GM chair in Philadelphia.

“What you like about Hexy is he learned it from the grassroots up,” began Lombardi.

“This is a guy who had no problem getting in his truck and driving four hours to go to a minor league game or a junior game. So, he clearly paid his dues, and then he came out here, learned closer to the management style. So you couldn’t have a guy who was better ready.

"He’s kind of the Jimmy Nill route, the former players who then learn the business as much as they can before they get in that seat, because the reality is nobody understands what it’s like to be in that seat before they’re in it. It’s totally different from the outside perspective. But, that said, there’s a method to training yourself to be ready for everything. He and Jimmy Nill are the greatest examples of the old fashioned way. You put your nose to the grindstone, and eventually those opportunities will come.”

Source: Jon Rosen, LA Kings Insider