Draft Preview - Part III: The most diverse NHL draft ever
The hiring of Mike Grier by the San Jose Sharks and a run of women taking assistant GM jobs will give this year's proceedings a much different, and better, look
MONTREAL – Assuming they don’t trade their first-round choice, the San Jose Sharks will make history with the 11th overall pick in the NHL draft Thursday night. For the first time ever in the NHL, a Black executive will step up and announce his team’ first pick when Mike Grier makes his first official transaction as GM of the Sharks. At the New Jersey Devils’ and Toronto Maple Leafs’ tables, there will be newly hired assistant GMs in Kate Madigan and Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser. And they’ll be joined by three other female assistant GMs who were hired earlier this season – Emilie Castonguay and Cammi Granato with the Vancouver Canucks and Meghan Hunter with the Chicago Blackhawks.
The face of NHL executive offices is changing. It has been a long time coming and a little behind schedule, but it is definitely happening. And for all those who have enjoyed the advantages of being a white male all their lives and suddenly now want the playing field evened, you can be rest assured that the people filling these jobs are eminently qualified for their roles and responsibilities.
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