Penguins promote Chris Pryor to assistant general manager

Chris Pryor, a longtime lieutenant of Penguins general manager Ron Hextall, was promoted to assistant general manager of the franchise Tuesday.

He replaces Patrik Allvin, who left the organization in January to take over as general manager of the Vancouver Canucks.

Pryor, 61, was previously the Penguins director of player personnel. He will assist Hextall in all aspects of managing the club.

During Hextall’s tenure as general manager of the Philadelphia Flyers, Pryor was his assistant general manager for parts of three seasons. Throughout his career, Pryor largely has worked in a scouting capacity dating back to 1994.

In addition:

• The Penguins also promoted video coach Andy Saucier to a hockey operations analyst/pro personnel role.

Per a release from the team, Saucier, 35, will serve as a “conduit between the coaching staff and analytics department, be involved in player personnel decisions, and aid with pro scouting efforts.” He is expected to continue his in-game role in aiding the coaching staff on potential video review situations.

During the 2021-22 regular season, the Penguins were 7 for 7 on coach’s challenges thanks in part to Saucier and assistant video coach Madison Nikkel.

Saucier has been a member of the Penguins in some capacity dating to 2010 and was a member of the franchise’s Stanley Cup championship teams in 2016 and ’17.

• Erik Heasley was named general manager of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the franchise’s American Hockey League affiliate. Heasley also will retain his role as manager of hockey operations.

The 36-year-old Heasley has been a member of the franchise for the past 14 seasons.

Follow the Penguins all season long.