Pittsburgh Penguins’ President of Hockey Operations Kyle Dubas announced on Wednesday morning that Jason Spezza has been hired as an assistant general manager.
Spezza’s role will see him report directly to Dubas, assisting the team’s management in all hockey operations departments.
“After a decorated playing career, Jason fully immersed himself on the management side of the game learning all facets of hockey operations this past season while with Toronto,” said Dubas. “He showed tremendous work ethic, curiosity, and ability to build relationships throughout all departments at the team facility. His move from the roster to the front office staff also helped make the hockey operations department, coaching staff and playing roster a more cohesive and collaborative unit. We are thrilled to have Jason join the Pittsburgh Penguins today as he will add a great perspective to our Club, and we are excited to watch him reach his potential in management.”
Spezza worked under Dubas in 2022-23 as a special assistant to the GM with the Toronto Maple Leafs after retiring as a player. He had resigned from his role the same day that the Maple Leafs announced that Dubas would not be returning as GM last month.
Spezza spent 19 seasons in the NHL, playing 11 with the Ottawa Senators, five with the Dallas Stars and three with the Maple Leafs. He finished his career with 363 goals, 632 assists and 995 points in 1,248 regular season games, and 28 goals, 48 assists and 76 points in 97 playoff games.
Spezza is Kyle Dubas’ first move since he was hired in Pittsburgh, one that shouldn’t be surprising considering the events that took place around his departure from Toronto. He’ll need to make plenty more if he wants to return the Penguins to playoff – and possibly Stanley Cup – contention, but does enter the offseason with more than $20 million in cap space and only Tristan Jarry as an unrestricted free agent of note.
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