The Pittsburgh Penguins announced a litany of hockey operations hirings and promotions Monday, including one addition from the world of Major League Baseball.
Jonathan Erlichman was hired as the vice president of hockey research, development and strategy, joining the Penguins after spending 12 seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays. Lucas Malloy was also hired from a job in baseball, earning the title of hockey operations manager after being a key component in Fenway Sports Group’s acquisitions of the Pens, Boston Common Golf and a minority investment in PGA Tour Enterprises.
Amanda Kessel is another notable name involved in the hockey operations shuffle, being promoted to assistant general manager of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins after spending the 2023-24 campaign as special assistant to the general manager in Pittsburgh. Kessell will work alongside fellow assistant general manager Jason Spezza in the AHL.
The Penguins announced the full list of hirings and promotions here.
Story continues below advertisement
“Amanda’s promotion is a reflection of the exceptional work that she’s done with us over the past year-plus as she continues to grow and develop professionally,” Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas told The Athletic on Monday.
Kessel — who has four world championship titles, an Olympic gold medal, three NCAA championships and a Patty Kazmaier Award — is one of the most decorated female hockey players of all time and could choose to continue her playing career in the PWHL in 2024-25. PWHL Montreal owns the rights to sign Kessel for the next two years, though PWHL Boston — with U.S. teammates Hilary Knight and Megan Keller, and her sister-in-law, Courtney Kessel, as the coach — is believed to be Kessel’s preferred destination.
Kessel is the sister of three-time Stanley Cup champion and Penguins legend Phil Kessel.
More Penguins: Penguins’ Cody Glass Hilariously Responds To Detractor
Story continues below advertisement
Featured image via Dan Hamilton/USA TODAY Sports Images