Color of Hockey: Daley, Kessel embrace new roles with Penguins

William Douglas has been writing The Color of Hockey blog since 2012. Douglas joined NHL.com in 2019 and writes about people of color in the sport. Today, he profiles retired NHL defenseman Trevor Daley and United States Olympic women's hockey player Amanda Kessel, who were promoted to special assistants to Pittsburgh Penguins general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas on Aug. 3.

To say that Trevor Daley and Kyle Dubas have a history together is an understatement.

Daley was a promising young defenseman for Sault Ste. Marie of the Ontario Hockey League in the early 2000s when Dubas was the team's stick boy and dressing room attendant.

And it was Dubas who played matchmaker for Daley, setting him up with his future wife, Kristy West, by forwarding him her phone number.

The connection continues as Dubas, the Pittsburgh Penguins' president of hockey operations and general manager, promoted Daley and three-time U.S. Olympic medalist Amanda Kessel to be his special assistants on Aug. 3.

Pittsburgh hired Dubas on June 1 after he served nine seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, the past five as general manager.

"It's just continued," Daley said with a laugh about his relationship with Dubas. "Kyle is the real thing. I've known Kyle and (Penguins assistant general manager) Jason Spezza for a long time, and to work for people like that and to work for the organization like the Pittsburgh Penguins … it's going to be an easy role for me because it's all love for this organization because I owe so much to it."

Daley won the Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 2016 and 2017 and spent the past three seasons as a hockey operations adviser for the organization following his retirement in 2020.

A second-round pick (No. 43) by the Dallas Stars in the 2002 NHL Draft, he had 309 points (89 goals, 220 assists) in 1,058 regular-season games for Pittsburgh, the Chicago Blackhawks, Stars and Detroit Red Wings.

As hockey operations adviser, he assisted in player evaluations at the NHL and American Hockey League level and participated in on-ice player development.

In his new role, Daley will have an increased focus on player personnel and a continued emphasis on player development and minor league operations, the Penguins said.

"I was excited for the hockey adviser opportunity because with things that happened, like the COVID pandemic, I didn't really get the opportunity to fulfill the job and to see what it was all about," he said. "So it's exciting for me to kind of get this fresh start."

Kessel said she's excited about becoming part of a new management team under Dubas. She became a special assistant after participating in the Penguins' inaugural Executive Management Program.

There, she gained experience in hockey operations, communications and partnership marketing in the program. In her new job, she will delve into all facets of hockey operations, all relevant areas of club management and focus on hockey research and development, player personnel and minor league operations.

"I pretty much couldn't really ask to be in a better position and better people to learn from," she said. "You could tell right away when Kyle and 'Spez' came how bright they were and open and had so many ideas but want to have input from everybody. They're open and collective, which is awesome to see."

Kessel played for the U.S. at the Winter Games in 2014 (Sochi), 2018 (Pyeongchang) and 2022 (Beijing). She helped the U.S. win a gold medal in 2018 and silver medals in 2014 and 2022.

She had 248 points (108 goals, 140 assists) in 136 games for the University of Minnesota from 2010-16 and helped them win NCAA Division I women's championships in 2012, 2013 and 2016. She received the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award in 2013 as NCAA Division I's top women's player.

The 31-year-old from Madison, Wisconsin, said she's going to take a year off from playing for the U.S. to focus on her new position and to train in preparation for the new women's professional hockey league that's set to debut in January.

The league will be financially supported by Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Mark Walter and his wife, Kemba, after the Walters' firm purchased the assets of the Premier Hockey Federation. Tennis great Billie Jean King is among the new league's board members.

"Not knowing all the details and whatnot and having this great opportunity, I'm kind of going to take a step back and kind of see how everything goes and reevaluate," she said.

Kessel and Daley said that they hope their new roles put them on track toward becoming general managers someday.

"One hundred percent," Daley said. "My endgame is to one day be a general manager."

Photos courtesy: Pittsburgh Penguins