Alexandra Mandrycky has been named an assistant general manager with the Seattle Kraken, making her the sixth woman hired to the role since 2022 began.
Mandrycky was among Seattle’s initial hirings after the city was granted an expansion franchise. In 2018 she helped guide the search for Seattle’s first general manager, Ron Francis, who has now promoted her to her new role.
An analytics specialist, Mandrycky started her tenure with the Kraken as director of hockey administration before earning the title of director of hockey strategy and research. Before joining the Kraken, Mandrycky worked with the Minnesota Wild in analytics.
“I’m honored that Ron [Francis] and the rest of the team value data and technology and what that means to the organization,” said Mandrycky in an interview with ESPN. “I think there are now more women AGMs in the NHL than AGMs that have an analytical background. But the role of analytics has evolved around the league, and we’re now involved in all facets of hockey operations.”
Another aspect of Mandrycky’s role, and her growing success with the Kraken, has been her work with the organization’s scouts. As reported by the Seattle Times’ Geoff Baker, Seattle’s head of amateur scouting Robert Kron will report directly to Mandrycky. The strength of Seattle’s organizational relationship between scouting staff and analytics staff has already paid dividends in what most consider two strong draft classes for the Kraken.
The first woman hired to an assistant general manager position in 2022 was Émilie Castonguay who joined the Vancouver Canucks in January. Vancouver soon hired another woman, Hall of Famer Cammi Granato, after she started her career in the NHL with the Seattle Kraken as a scout. Since then, Hayley Wickenheiser (Toronto), Kate Madigan (New Jersey), and Meghan Hunter (Chicago) have all been hired as NHL assistant general managers.
Holding a degree in industrial engineering from Georgia Tech, Mandrycky got her start in hockey working for a now-defunct analytics website known as WAR-On-Ice. Now 31, Mandrycky is the first woman to hold an assistant general manager role while focusing specifically on analytics.
