According to an article on the Devils’ official website, the team has a new Senior Director of Player Personnel: Dan MacKinnon. According to the site, his job description is that he “will oversee all aspects of the club’s pro scouting operations. In addition, he will work with the organization’s hockey operations and pro/amateur scouting staffs regarding player evaluation, acquisition and draft preparation.” He will work out of Detroit.
MacKinnon was “acquired” from the Pittsburgh Penguins and, in fact, Ray Shero thanked Pittsburgh General Manager Jim Rutherford and the Pens “in allowing Dan to join the New Jersey Devils.”
MacKinnon’s bio reads that he is 42-years-old and had been with the Penguins for ten years from 2006 to 2016, winning two Stanley Cups with the organization. He was director of player personnel for the last seven years there, including this season’s Cup winning team. He oversaw the Pens’ professional pro and amateur scouting in both North America and Europe during that term.
Prior to the Penguins, where MacKinnon worked with Shero, he also worked with the current Devils’ GM in Nashville, where he worked from 2000 to 2006. In those six years, he was a professional scout for four and scouting coordinator for two. His bio on the Devils’ site also says he “worked in the league office for the American Hockey League” as well as the Mississauga Ice Dogs (OHL) front office.
His other credentials include him serving as an assistant coach at Ohio University (where he graduated with a master’s degree in Athletic Administration), playing one year at Mount Allison University (AUAA – Canadian college hockey, 1994-95) and two years at the University of Waterloo (OUAA – Canadian college as well 1996-98) and three years of junior hockey (1991 to 1993 with Pembroke of the CJHL and 1993-94 with Kingston of the MetJHL).