Screen Shots: Edmonton Oilers, Pittsburgh Penguins, All-Girls Minor Hockey

Welcome back to Screen Shots, a regular THN.com feature in which we analyze a few different hockey topics, and discuss them in a few paragraphs. As always, we’ll keep our introductory section short and get right to today’s items.

News of former player agent Jeff Jackson’s hiring as the new CEO of hockey operations for the Edmonton Oilers marks the move of another agent stepping into a position of NHL power. The 58-year-old has earned the respect of the hockey world in his role as an agent for the past 13 years, a job that followed his time as an NHL player. Jackson follows the lead of current NHL GMs Bill Zito (Florida) and Kent Hughes (Montreal), who once were agents. In addition, Vancouver assistant GM Emilie Castonguay had her own successful agency practice before the Canucks hired her.

Many other prominent agents have been rumored to be in the running for a job running a team. Super-agent Pat Brisson almost always has his name raised when there’s a GM or hockey operations job opening, but he’s stayed in private practice and been great at his job. But it’s clear the skills you need to be a successful agent – player relations and financial savviness being the two key skills – translate into the skills you need as a GM or management member. It’s not a case of, “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” for player agents. It’s more about the immense challenge of running a hockey department that appeals to them.

So don’t be shocked if you see other agents eventually take a job as a team president or GM. The NHL is often rightfully categorized as a copycat league, and if there is a road to winning that agents-turned-GMs/team presidents can point to as their own path, other franchises will take chances on them.

In another newsworthy management move this week, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced first-year head of hockey operations Kyle Dubas would also be taking on the GM role effective immediately. After his initial hiring by the Pens in June, Dubas left the door open for the hiring of a new GM. But in a move similar to the one made by Dubas’ former management mate in Toronto, Lou Lamoriello, Dubas decided he was the best choice for the job he posted and assumed both positions for Pittsburgh.

In one sense, Dubas’ decision to assume all the responsibility at the top of the Penguins’ organizational chart is honest work on his behalf. If he installed someone as GM, fans and media would still be well-aware Dubas had the final say as president on all hockey decisions. This announcement makes it clear he’s going to hold all the reins of power.

However, if Pittsburgh struggles and fails to make the playoffs this season, Dubas can revisit this decision and hire a new voice to be GM next summer. The 37-year-old has the trust of ownership, which is why he was comfortable taking both top management jobs. Now he has to produce the positive results that have been lacking for the Pens in recent seasons. The buck stops with him, for better or worse.

Finally, here’s wishing good luck to a fledgling women’s minor hockey league in Edmonton. The Edmonton Female Hockey Alliance (EFHE) was introduced Wednesday, with its creators intent on putting all girls’ minor hockey players in the city under the same umbrella within the next year.

It’s poised to achieve big things, most notably increasing the number of registered girl players from 200 this coming season to 1,000 by its first full year of operation. The EFHE will provide a competitive option for all young girls in the Edmonton region, which can only help the game grow.

Undoubtedly, there are bumps ahead for the league, just as there have been at the professional level of the women’s game. But this new operation is a great opportunity for an under-serviced element of the sport. Women's hockey is going to improve because of this move, and all hockey fans have to be pleased to see it happening.