Dan MacKinnon is reportedly in the running along with Eric Tulsky, Steve Greeley, Jason Karmanos, Matthieu Darche, and possibly Kyle Dubas.
NEWARK, N.J. -- Dan MacKinnon has been with the New Jersey Devils since 2016. He currently serves as the assistant general manager of the Devils and general manager of the team's American Hockey League affiliate, the Utica Comets.
He joined New Jersey as the senior director of player personnel after working with the Pittsburgh Penguins from 2006-2016. It was with his former organization that he began his working relationship with the Devils' general manager, Tom Fitzgerald. Both were part of the Penguins' management and staff during the team's 2009 Stanley Cup championship and together remained in the Steel City until Fitzgerald was named the assistant general manager of the Devils in the summer of 2015.
There is the possibility of a future reunion, as Pierre LeBrun reported MacKinnon is believed to have received a second-round interview for the Penguins' general manager position.
Additionally, Rob Rossi, who is a senior writer for The Athletic, reported on May 22 that Carolina Hurricanes assistant general manager Eric Tulsky is a name to watch after he impressed Fenway Sports Group’s top officials. He also shared the Penguins received permission to speak with former Toronto Maple Leafs' general manager Kyle Dubas, who was fired on May 19. (from 'Penguins GM search: Eric Tulsky impresses in interviews as Kyle Dubas reports swirl,' The Athletic, 05/22/23)
During his end-of-season media availability, Fitzgerald was asked to comment about his front-office employees receiving interviews from outside organizations.
"I think you start believing you're a good organization when other organizations start calling you on some of your people," he said. "I don't worry about anything like that. I just worry about my job, and that's to find really great people who are passionate about their craft and want to be part of something special. That's all I can control."
The Penguins fired former general manager Ron Hextall, president of hockey operations Brian Burke, and assistant general manager Chris Pryor on April 14 after the club missed the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in 17 seasons.