Amanda Kessel, a three-time Olympian, has been promoted to the position of manager of minor league operations and assistant general manager of the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. This move by the Pittsburgh Penguins reflects the exceptional work Kessel has done in her previous role as a special assistant to Penguins general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas.
Kessel’s promotion is significant, as she joins the ranks of other elite women’s hockey players working in NHL front offices. This trend includes Canadian legend Hayley Wickenheiser and former Team USA captains Meghan Duggan and Cammi Granato.
However, this promotion also raises questions about Kessel’s playing career. While there have been reports that she will not play in the PWHL, no official comment has been made regarding her plans for the upcoming season. Dubas stated that any decision regarding Kessel’s playing career will come from her, and the Penguins are supportive of whatever decision she makes.
When Kessel joined the Penguins in 2022, she left the possibility open to continue her playing career. A year later, she won a gold medal at the 2023 women’s world championships while playing a top-line role for Team USA. After that, she took a year off from international competition and sat out the inaugural PWHL season while working full-time with the Penguins.
Kessel declared for the 2024 PWHL draft earlier this year, but her return to play was not guaranteed due to the lack of flexibility regarding roster selection in the league’s second year. In the inaugural season, players of Kessel’s caliber could dictate where they played, but that was not the case for the 2024 draft. Kessel would be required to report to whatever team selected her in order to play in the PWHL.
Additionally, the salary situation in the PWHL has changed for its second year. In the first year, high-profile players were signing lucrative three-year contracts. However, due to salary cap constraints, these kinds of offers were either impossible or unrealistic for players entering the league in its second year.
On draft day, Kessel dropped in the rankings and appeared to be heading towards going undrafted. However, in the seventh and final round, Montreal GM Danièle Sauvageau selected Kessel 41st overall. There have been reports and speculation that Kessel was only interested in playing for the Boston franchise, but the team has stated that Kessel never informed them that Boston was her only acceptable landing spot.
Montreal now owns the rights to sign Kessel for the next two years. The question remains whether Kessel will choose to continue her playing career or focus solely on her new role with the Penguins. Regardless of her decision, Kessel’s promotion is a testament to her talent and the increasing opportunities for women in hockey.