Not long ago, Amanda Kessel was drafted by Montreal in the PWHL, even though she had made it clear she was only interested in playing for Boston.
This week, Amanda Kessel's rise within the Pittsburgh Penguins organization reached a new milestone. She was named Assistant General Manager of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, signaling her growing influence in the team's future direction.
The Penguins have announced several staff hirings and promotions to the hockey operations department.
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) August 19, 2024
Read more about the staff: https://t.co/biy7LSS8l5 pic.twitter.com/pSaV4wCu2g
This suggests Kessel may have been frustrated about not being traded out of Montreal. More importantly, it highlights her focus on her long-term goal of becoming an NHL GM.
For the 2024-25 season, she will assist newly promoted GM Jason Spezza with team management and oversee the Penguins' minor league operations.
How Kessel's leadership could redefine the Penguins' future
Kessel will oversee player development with a certain focus on the organization's minor league prospects in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Her responsibilities include managing the Penguins' ECHL affiliate, the Wheeling Nailers, an important part in developing talent for the NHL level.
Her influence will be felt in how these young prospects are developed, aligning with GM Kyle Dubas's strategic focus on acquiring future draft picks. This unified approach could redefine the Penguins' long-term strategy, making the team more competitive in the post-Crosby era.
With years of experience in hockey management, Kessel has steadily risen through the ranks and will now focus on shaping the future roster, including promising prospects like Brayden Yager.
Understanding Kessel's path from the ice to the front office shows how her past experiences playing hockey at a high level has given her a understanding of the sport in general.
On top of that, her playing career is marked by notable achievements, including winning a 2018 Olympic gold medal with Team USA and four IIHF Women’s World Championship titles.
She was also a standout at the University of Minnesota, where she helped secure three NCAA championships and was awarded the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award in 2013 as the top female college hockey player.
She's perfect for the role she's now in and her combination of office/playing experience will only help her going forward.