After a dismal 2021/22 season, the New Jersey Devils are looking to make meaningful changes in the offseason, which so far means a shakeup in Front Office personnel. This includes the hiring of Angus Mugford as Senior Vice President of the player development and performance department, as well as the promotion of Meghan Duggan to Director of Player Development. Duggan was hired by the Devils on May 19, 2021 to fill a newly created managerial position in the player development department. Duggan, who had an amazing collegiate hockey career, was a part of the United States women’s hockey team from 2007 to 2020 and helped them win a Gold Medal at the 2018 Olympics. She is one of a few women currently working for a NHL team, with former U.S. teammate Amanda Kessel having been hired earlier this year by the Pittsburgh Penguins to serve in an intern position.
Meghan Duggan’s stellar hockey career started at the University of Wisconsin playing for the Division One hockey team. Her freshman season was 2006/07. She played in 39 games, scored 52 points (26 goals and 26 assists), and led the Badgers to a National Title. Duggan won the WCHA Rookie of the Year. for the 2008/09 season, her junior year, Duggan led the Badgers to a third-straight appearance in the National Title Game and second title in three years. Duggan took a year off to compete for the U.S. hockey team, and returned to the Badgers in 2010/11 for her senior season. She scored 87 points in 41 games and led the Badgers to a third NCAA Title. She won the 2011 Patty Kazmaier Award for best national female collegiate hockey player.
Meghan Duggan began her career with the U.S. Women’s Hockey Team in 2007. The U.S. earned a Silver Medal at the 2007 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships. After that, the U.S. won Gold at the World Championships in 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2017. Duggan played in three Olympics for Team USA. The U.S. won Silver in 2010 and 2014. The U.S. won Gold in 2018. They played Canada in each of the three Gold Medal matches.
Meghan Duggan retired from professional hockey in October 2020 at the age of 33. She was hired by the New Jersey Devils in 2021 to be a manager in the player development department.
While the New Jersey Devils giving Meghan Duggan a promotion is a good sign that they have faith in her ability to help guide this franchise back to the playoffs, she still has a tough job ahead of her. The Devils finished with the third worst record in the Eastern Conference in the 2021/22 season, and now possess the number two pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. Even with a solid draft pick, don’t expect the Devils to compete overnight. These things take time.
