After being selected in the 2024 PWHL Draft, it’s now clear Amanda Kessel won’t be playing in the league.
Kessel was announced part of the NHL Pittsburgh Penguins’ Hockey Operations Department promotions today. She’ll take on an Assistant General Manager role with the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and was named the Penguins’ Manager of Minor League Operations.
Last season Kessel served as a special assistant to the general manager with the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins.
The 32-year-old had declared for the 2024 PWHL Draft but only had intentions to play for PWHL Boston. That message however, was not clear to all as by declaring for the draft, players were stating they were willing to play for any team. When Montreal selected Kessel 41st overall in the draft, her intent to be in Boston ended.
Kessel was promoted alongside former NHL star Jason Spezza who was named the General Manager for the Wilkes-Barre/Penguins. According to the Pittsburgh Penguins’ press release, Kessel “will assist Spezza with all matters involving WBS, and will oversee the Penguins’ minor league affiliate in the ECHL (Wheeling) to ensure seamless communication between Pittsburgh and its member clubs.”
Since Kessel was selected by Montreal, trade talk and speculation had swirled, but it became clear that teams would not be able to pay Kessel what she wanted, nor could appropriate assets and finances be moved for a trade.
In 2022-2023 Kessel scored five points in six games with Team Adidas in the PWHPA, and added five goals and nine points in seven games at the World Championships helping USA win gold.
She has four World Championship gold medals and an Olympic gold medal as a member of Team USA, and has represented USA at a total of seven World Championships and three Olympic Games.
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