The Pittsburgh Penguins have hired Wes Clark as vice president of player personnel. Clark previously worked with current Penguins president and GM Kyle Dubas for five seasons at the Toronto Maple Leafs. Despite speculation last summer, Clark’s move to the Penguins was only finalized today.
Clark, 41, will lead both amateur and professional scouting divisions, currently directed by Nick Pryor and Andy Saucier, respectively. He will also oversee European scouting efforts and report directly to Dubas. Clark has a strong reputation for his draft success in recent years.
Dubas emphasized the importance of bolstering the player personnel system, highlighting previous additions like Trent Mann as a player development and scouting advisor, and Andy Saucier’s promotion to head of pro scouting. Dubas believes that Clark’s hiring will strengthen the Penguins’ ability to execute their personnel strategy. He trusts Clark’s talent identification, leadership, and ability to enhance scouting processes.
This offseason, Dubas has focused on acquiring younger, more motivated players. Clark, who managed the NHL Draft for Toronto as director of player personnel (2023-24) and amateur scouting (2021-23), has shown a knack for picking talent. Notable selections include Easton Cowan, who led the London Knights to the Memorial Cup and is vying for an NHL spot, and Matthew Knies, who quickly made an impact in the NHL after being picked 57th overall in 2021. Fraser Minton, selected 38th overall in 2022, also debuted in the NHL within two years of his draft.
Clark’s successful draft picks have outpaced the Penguins’ recent drafts, with no Pittsburgh draftee reaching the NHL since the 2019 class.
Leave a Reply