In a whirlwind of activity in the front office, the Pittsburgh Penguins have made some key promotions and hires that are sure to shake things up for the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins.
First off, Jason Spezza, who has been serving as an assistant general manager for the Penguins, is now taking on a much larger role with the organization. He has been tasked with overseeing all aspects of the AHL Wilkes-Barre Scranton franchise as their new general manager. This promotion highlights Spezza’s dedication and hard work in the organization over the past two seasons.
Joining Spezza in a new position is Amanda Kessel, who has been promoted to manager of minor league operations and assistant general manager of AHL Wilkes-Barre Scranton. Kessel, who previously served as a special assistant to general manager Kyle Dubas, will assist Spezza in matters involving the AHL club and will also take on the additional responsibility of overseeing the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers. This promotion speaks volumes about Kessel’s capabilities and potential within the organization.
But the changes don’t stop there. The Penguins have also brought in Jonathan Erlichman as their new vice president of hockey research, development, and strategy. Erlichman comes to the Penguins after spending over a decade with the Tampa Bay Rays as their vice president of process and analytics. His wealth of experience and expertise will be invaluable as he takes on the responsibility of overseeing the team’s use of data and analytics in player acquisition, player development, and player evaluation.
These moves are sure to have a significant impact on the Penguins organization and its affiliates. With Spezza and Kessel leading the charge in the AHL and Erlichman bringing a fresh perspective to the team’s strategic decision-making, the Penguins are setting themselves up for success both on and off the ice. And as the players and staff adjust to these new roles and responsibilities, the Penguins are poised to make some serious waves in the hockey world.
