Penguins name director of hockey operations and legal affairs

Mpofu will be assisting the Penguins' hockey operations department with negotiating contracts, providing expertise on the salary cap and the collective bargaining agreement, and helping lead the Penguins' hockey research and development department.

“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,” said Penguins President of Hockey Operations Kyle Dubas. “In the process of completing this hire, Vukie came highly recommended by 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 had spent the last two seasons in a similar role with the Los Angeles Kings under the title of hockey operations director, with the Kings going 91-52-21 during his time there. Prior to that, he worked with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2020-21 as a legal affairs Intern.

He had a bit of a playing career, even playing 69 games as a winger in the Western Hockey League with the Red Deer Rebels in 2012-13 and 2013-14, scoring nine goals and six assists for 15 points in that span. He also played one playoff game for the Rebels in 2014, where he was held pointless.

Mpofu is another addition to the new Penguins staff under Dubas, who was hired as the president of hockey operations at the beginning of June. Dubas had replaced Brian Burke in that position after Burke was fired along with general manager Ron Hextall due to the Penguins missing the playoffs for the first time since 2006.

The Pens finished the 2022-23 season with a 41-30-11 record, only good enough for fifth in the Metropolitan Division, and placing them one point behind the Florida Panthers for the final wild-card spot.