Penguins hire former defenseman Trevor Daley for front office role

The Pittsburgh Penguins added another defenseman to their mix Monday.

He won’t be working on their blue line, however.

The team hired Trevor Daley, a member of the club’s Stanley Cup championships in 2016 and ’17, as a hockey operations adviser.

In this role, Daley will be based out of Pittsburgh. He will assist general manager Jim Rutherford in player evaluations at the NHL and American Hockey League level and act as an “eye in the sky” for the coaching staff during games.

This move brings an end to Daley’s 16-year career as a player. In addition to the Penguins, Daley also played for the Dallas Stars, who selected him in the second round of the 2002 draft, as well as the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings.

Daley, 37, appeared in 1,058 career regular-season games and scored 309 points (89 goals, 220 assists).

“I don’t think you’re ever prepared for taking this next step of leaving the game (as a player),” Daley said in a video conference. “Trust me, there’s nothing that I’m going to be doing that’s like playing the game. … So when you say bye to the game, I don’t think you’re ever ready for it because nothing is like playing hockey. Has it kicked in? I don’t know. I kind of weighed out all the options and what they were and how they would look. This position that I’m getting into, because it’s coming from the Penguins organization, it just makes me feel so comfortable. It feels so right. I’m excited about it. When I told my family, they were ecstatic about it. It just feels right. Leaving the game is going to be tough, but this decision feels right.”

The Penguins acquired Daley from the Blackhawks via trade in December 2015. In 109 career regular-season games with the Penguins, Daley had 41 points (11 goals, 30 assists).

Through his brief tenure with the Penguins, Daley became one of the most popular and respected players on the team. During the team’s on-ice celebration with the Stanley Cup in 2016, Daley, who was unable to complete the playoffs because of a broken ankle, was the first teammate captain Sidney Crosby handed the trophy to.

“When he played here, I really grew to like Trevor,” Rutherford said by phone. “You could see he was a quiet leader. He had great character. He was well liked. I told his agent a long time ago, shortly after he left his playing days with the Penguins, that he’d be a guy that I’d be interesting in bring into the front office some day. Of course, he’s played for a few years since he was here. When I heard that possibly he wasn’t going to play this year, we started that conversation again. Once Trevor had made the decision that he wasn’t going to play, then I told him that if he’s interesting in coming here, there’s a place with the Penguins.”

Departing as a free agent in 2017, Daley spent the past three seasons in Detroit. Last season, he appeared in 43 games and recorded seven assists.

“Immediately, he’ll bring things that can be helpful to us,” Rutherford said. “I like to have a guy that’s been on the ice just recently because those guys … they know some things and pick some things up that we don’t, sitting way up watching games and practice.”

A native of Toronto, Daley becomes one of the relatively few people of color to hold a front office position in the NHL.

“It’s such a huge topic in the world we are in today,” Daley said. “Because of that, I think I owe it to set an example and I’m going to do my best to set that example and try to help by doing the right thing along the way in showing that somebody of color can do this. Especially in the world that we’re living today. I’m going to try to take advantage of that part of it, for sure.”

Daley’s connection to Rutherford played a vital role in his choice to embark on a new career.

“When I had talked to Jim, making the decision to leave the game made it a lot easier, just knowing the fact that I was coming back to Pittsburgh where I feel very comfortable with the organization,” Daley said. “I feel comfortable with the city. My kids love it there. Some really good relationships when we were there with some friends. My kids are so excited to come back there. And just for myself, the opportunity that I’m getting to see what this side of the game looks like. And to get it with this organization and to get it with Jim.

“Jim is one of the most respected people in the game, especially with what he does in that field. To be so hands on with him really made my decision easy.”

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