Duggan discusses role with Devils in Q&A with NHL.com

In NHL.com's Q&A feature called "Sitting Down with …" we talk to key figures in the game, gaining insight into their lives on and off the ice. Today, we feature New Jersey Devils director of player development Meghan Duggan.

Meghan Duggan has had quite a few accomplishments in her career: The forward played in three Olympics, captaining the United States to the gold medal in PyeongChang in 2018. She also won seven world championships before retiring from hockey in 2020.
But it wasn't long before she took on her next challenge: The NHL.
Since she arrived on scene with the New Jersey Devils, Duggan has helped put her stamp on the team, being promoted to director, player development, after one season as manager, player development.
"[It's been] great from the first call I had," the 35-year-old said of talking to general manager Tom Fitzgerald and assistant general managers Kate Madigan and Dan MacKinnon. "We just clicked right away.
"I was excited about the opportunity to join a group where I felt it was a real people-first organization. They were in the midst of bringing in a lot of … high-end young talent and excited about where the future of our team was going."
That future has come quickly.
After reaching the Stanley Cup Playoffs only once since they lost the Stanley Cup Final in 2012, a loss in the Eastern Conference First Round in 2018, the Devils are making waves this season.
They are second in the Metropolitan Division, two points behind the Carolina Hurricanes. Which makes it awfully fun to go to work every day.
"It's an awesome group," she said. "Not only the players on the ice, but just the coaches, the support staff, everything. Management. Everything that goes into it, it's a hard-working, dedicated group that's really clicking and kind of running on all cylinders right now. It's exciting to see. It's exciting to be associated with the organization."
Duggan knows what losing feels like. She also knows what winning feels like. She much prefers the latter.
"It's obviously fun any time you're winning," she said. "I've seen that in my playing career -- times I've lost and times I've won, it's definitely more fun and exciting to be on the winning side. So truly give credit to the players and the coaches and management staff and support staff grinding it out in New Jersey every day in this long NHL season. It's awesome to be a part of."
In a Q&A with NHL.com, Duggan talked about the challenges she'd like to take on, what joining the NHL has been like, and the role on which she's set her sights on.
What has this season been like, in your new position?
"It's been great. I've been with the Devils now two years and obviously took on more responsibility in the last six months or so. It's been incredible. It's a great group. Obviously, the big club having a ton of success this year just makes it exciting for everyone that works in the organization. My role is fulfilling, it's exciting, keeps me on my toes every day. It's different every day. I'm really enjoying it. Love the people I work with. Fortunate for the opportunities I've been given. And I love to work hard and make an impact. That's what I'm able to do in this role."
What has changed since you were promoted from manager to director of player development?
"Just taking on more responsibility. It's a similar role, working in the development department. I think my first year managing the group in the department, I was getting my feet wet, still understanding a lot, whether it was the terminology, getting to know the players, getting to know the staff and the role. Obviously was able to stay organized and provide value and that's where I was given the opportunity to take on more. Now with more responsibility, I can start leading a little bit more of strategy and vision for plans for some of our young players, the way that we maximize talent and think about NHL ETAs for some of our young guys and start to add value that way as well. It's a lot of the same. My role is really assisting all departments that have a hand in the lifecycle of our players, from acquisition, whether it's going drafted or signed, all the way up through becoming an established NHL player or an asset. So working with all departments and on all the information, as you can imagine, both on the ice and off the ice that leads to some of those decisions and development plans."
What appealed to you about coming to work in the NHL, joining the Devils, and going in this direction with your career?
"I love the sport. Grew up a huge fan of the NHL. And from a young age, I knew I always wanted to -- once I finished my playing career -- continue to have an impact in hockey in the men's professional space. I've just always been a fan of the NHL. So to have the opportunity to work in it and be making an impact, it was kind of a no-brainer for me. So shortly after I retired, Cammi [Granato] was one of the first calls that I made. I knew that she had had a similar path that I had. She was a really great mentor for me. So we just chatted through, what does the landscape look? What are the opportunities out there? What is something that I may be interested in? And calls with her led to calls with others, whether it was organizations or people I knew in the League, and eventually was connected to New Jersey management staff, which it was -- I don't know if they'd say the same -- but for me, it was a natural, organic fit. … They saw that I was going to be able to add value, whether I was coming from the women's side or not and appreciated and honored my hockey background and brought me in and put me to work right away. That's what I've loved a lot about this role."
Is there anyone you look at and feel like you've been able to impact, in particular?
"I think all of us, it's really a group effort. Because it's on the ice, off the ice. It's technically and tactically and physiologically and psychologically. I think that's what's so great about our department, is working together to try to provide these players resources and assist them and maximize their talent. I think it's a process. It's a process from when a 17, 18-year-old guy is drafted until he becomes an NHL superstar. But being able to work on that, it's really fulfilling and I'm excited to see where some of our young guys end up and how they impact the League in the coming years."
What has it been like to be part of the acceleration of hiring of women in the NHL?
"It's great. Kate is elite at what she does. She is unbelievable in her role. And I don't think as many people know that about her, how good she is and how hard she works as those of us who see her work every single day. I was thrilled for her this past summer when she, rightfully, earned and was promoted to assistant GM. And I look forward to seeing her probably be the first [female] general manager in the National Hockey League, if it's not Cammi first. I'm sure it'll be one of the two of them. She's so supportive of me. she's a great mentor, someone I'd call a really great friend of mine. I love the opportunity to work with her. I think having companions as a woman when there's so few women in the space is a really important thing. And I think we've developed a really great working relationship and friendship and I'm really thankful for it. I love learning from her and seeing her really succeed and help our organization."
What are your ultimate aspirations?
"I love the role that I'm in right now. I think anyone who's passionate about growth and development obviously wants to continue to see themselves move forward, take on new roles, take on new responsibilities. I certainly enjoy learning more, like the management side. Like I said, love working with Kate, love working with Dan MacKinnon, Tom Fitzgerald. Love thinking about how they build teams. So I would envision myself hopefully years down being a general manager in the NHL someday. I think that's a lofty goal, but one that would be exciting to try and work towards."