Sometimes a change of scenery is a good thing. Players all the time spend their playing careers wondering what comes next. For Amanda Kessel, her playing days are done and a new chapter begins. She will be taking a front office role in the AHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins organization.
Who Is Amanda Kessel?
Amanda Kessel, has been playing hockey nearly her whole life and she is an incredible hockey player. She has had her statistics recorded since she was playing for the Madison Capitols back in 2004-05. Now fast-forward and she is a very accomplished individual who has four World Championships and an Olympic Gold Medal. She is also a three-time Olympian. Kessel most recently, had nine points including five goals in seven games at the World Championships in 2022-2023 to ensure the United States won gold.
This past hockey season, she was the Special Assistant to Kyle Dubas with the Pittsburgh Penguins. She is the second Kessel to be in the Penguins organization as her husband Phil won two Stanley Cups with the Penguins.
Wants to Play In The Newly Formed PWHL
Once the PWHL, opened in August of 2023, Kessel no longer Dubas’ Special Assistant, had hopes of playing in the PWHL. However, there was only one team she wanted to play for and that was PWHL Boston. Maybe she wanted to play there due to her sister in-law Courtney Brichard-Kessel being the head coach. However, PWHL Montreal drafted her 41st overall in the 2024 PWHL Draft, just two picks away from being undrafted.
However, she will no longer be playing in the PWHL or at least not this season. It was just announced Monday afternoon, Amanda Kessel was promoted to Assistant General Manager of the AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Penguins’ Manager of Minor League Operations. In addition, Kessel will assist Spezza in every aspect of the AHL team as well as oversee Penguins ECHL affiliate the Wheeling Nailers. Kessel will also be helping out with the Nailers to ensure communication between every organization of the Penguins.
What This Means For Her Future and Why She Did This?
There was rumours floating around ever since she was selected to Montreal that she did not want to be there. However, her only way out was getting traded as trade rumours were also heating up. However, no other team had the finances to pay Kessel what she wanted. Also, no other team had the assets to even make a trade happen. Therefore, Kessel was stuck in Montreal and she chose to go back to the Penguins organization and even was promoted in the process.
Kessel is 32 years old and she turns 33 later this month. Due to her age as well as other factors such as finances, assets, and her current role, she may not get the opportunity to ever play in the PWHL. The current oldest player in the league is someone she could have been teammates with in Montreal in Ann-Sophie Bettez. Bettez is currently 36 years old and is the oldest active player in the PWHL. Even without ever appearing in the PWHL, Amanda Kessel is incredible hockey player and is now climbing the ladder in the front office. Maybe she can become the first woman general manager in the NHL.
However, Kessel was not the only one promoted in the Penguins organization. Former player and current Penguins Assistant General Manager Jason Spezza was also promoted. Spezza is the new General Manager for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The Penguins AHL team will now be under new management. A new chapter begins and it is a great thing to see for the organization.
Main Photo: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
