Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas added some front-office assistance ahead of the NHL draft and the start of free agency this week when he announced the hiring of Vukie Mpofu as director of hockey operations and legal affairs.

Mpofu, 27, will advise and assist the hockey operations department with player contract negotiations, ensure compliance with the collective bargaining agreement and salary cap, and lead the hockey research and development department.

He spent the past two seasons as manager of hockey operations and legal affairs with the Los Angeles Kings, where in addition working on player contract negotiations, salary cap and collective bargaining issues, he also managed the analytics staff and assisted with employment contracts for the Kings and the Ontario Reign, their AHL affiliate.

He also spent the 2020-21 season as a legal affairs intern with the Vegas Golden Knights.

“We are very excited to have Vukie Mpofu join the Penguins management team today. Vukie has accrued great experience the last several seasons with Vegas and Los Angeles after graduating from Law School at UCLA,” Dubas said in statement. “In the process of completing this hire, Vukie came highly recommended from everyone he has interacted with in the game and he was most impressive throughout. He has great potential and we look forward to welcoming him to Pittsburgh.”

Mpofu is Dubas’ second front-office hire since being named the Penguins’ president of hockey operations June 1. On June 14, he announced Jason Spezza an assistant general manager.

A native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, he graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a degree in political science and later received his Juris Doctor at UCLA School of Law, with a specialization in media, entertainment, technology and sports law, and served as president of UCLA’s Sports Law Federation from 2020-21.

Mpofu played parts of two seasons with the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League from 2012-14, accumulating 15 points in 69 regular-season games.

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