When we compiled a list two years ago of up-and-coming NHL coach and general manager candidates, we noted how familial the hiring practices could be. Since the 2005-06 season, nearly 60% of the coaches hired were what the industry calls “retreads,” and it was rare to see an outside-the-box candidate take over the general manager role. More glaringly, the positions had almost exclusively gone to white men.
In the past year, there has been a sea of change across hockey. San Jose hired Mike Grier, making him the league’s first Black GM. A historic offseason included six women being promoted to NHL assistant general manager positions; prior to 2022 only one woman held that title in league history. One of the new assistant GMs, Alexandra Mandrycky in Seattle, became the first woman elevated to that position to specialize in analytics. Jessica Campbell was named an assistant coach in Coachella Valley, making her the first woman behind the bench in the AHL. And in the ECHL, Joel Martin was hired in Kalamazoo, joining Jason Payne (Cincinnati Cyclones) as the only Black head coaches in North American professional hockey. Patrik Allvin, who is Swedish, was also hired as GM in Vancouver, giving the NHL two European general managers.
We’re starting to see leaders in hockey become more…
