Devils Assistant GM Madigan Talks Raising Bar for Women in Hockey

Madigan reflects on her path to the NHL and the changing landscape for women in the sport.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 4:00am

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Kate Madigan, assistant general manager of the New Jersey Devils, discusses her journey into hockey management, the progress she's seen in the inclusion of women and people of color in the NHL, and her goals for the future, including winning multiple Stanley Cups and continuing to change perceptions about women in the sport.

Why it matters

Madigan's rise through the ranks of NHL management is an inspiring story that highlights the growing opportunities for women in professional sports, particularly in hockey. Her perspective on the changing landscape and her desire to be a role model for young girls and women aspiring to careers in the industry underscores the importance of diversity and representation in the traditionally male-dominated world of professional sports.

The details

Madigan first developed a passion for hockey as a teenager, when she would watch Pittsburgh Penguins games with her mother while her father worked as a scout for the team. She was inspired by the sport's ability to provide an outlet and a sense of community. After realizing she wanted to work in sports management, Madigan has spent the last 10 years climbing the ladder with the New Jersey Devils, where she now serves as an assistant general manager. She has seen progress in the inclusion of women and people of color in the NHL, particularly in roles like public relations, communications, and family services. Madigan believes the key is creating pipelines and opportunities for qualified individuals who may not have the same professional networks as others.

  • Madigan was 16 years old when the Penguins won the Stanley Cup, which is when she realized she wanted to work in hockey.
  • Madigan has been with the New Jersey Devils for the past 10 years, climbing the ranks to her current role as assistant general manager.

The players

Kate Madigan

The assistant general manager of the New Jersey Devils, who has spent the last 10 years working her way up in the organization.

Sidney Crosby

A star player for the Pittsburgh Penguins, whom Madigan followed closely as a teenager.

Evgeni Malkin

Another star player for the Pittsburgh Penguins, whom Madigan followed closely as a teenager.

Meghan Duggan

An Olympic gold medalist who is on the Devils' staff, highlighting the team's commitment to diversity.

Jack Hughes

A Devils center who scored the gold-medal-winning goal for Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics, further raising the profile of the sport.

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What they’re saying

“Growing up, I was a huge Penguins fan. My dad was a scout for them for a bit and I had met (Shero) a couple times but wasn't really close with him then. I was 16 when the Penguins won the Stanley Cup. My mom, at the time, was recovering from breast cancer surgery so I spent a lot of time with her and we would watch all the games. That's when I kind of realized that it's a sport, but it was an outlet for me. I knew everything about Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin; I was so invested. That's when I learned this could help other people. Like, if it's helping me, I want to be a part of this to help a community that you might not even realize you're helping. Sports provides so much passion and excitement and I wanted to be a part of it. I didn't know how or if it was even possible at that age, but it was kind of when I thought I wanted to do this someday.”

— Kate Madigan, Assistant General Manager, New Jersey Devils (NHL.com)

“I'd say there's a lot of women and people of color in hockey that you may not always see. We have so many in public relations, communications, family services ... I actually think we have more women on our floor than men. We have the coaching inclusion program that the NHL Coaches' Association Female Coaches Program does and that's at the forefront to create the pipeline. You're never going to have a female coach if she's never been an assistant in the American Hockey League. So creating those pipelines has been important and there's so many qualified people out there, but they might not just have the network that others do.”

— Kate Madigan, Assistant General Manager, New Jersey Devils (NHL.com)

“Ask for what you want. I think a lot of times, we're always in our head. I'm thinking about me more than anyone else so if you want to sit in on that meeting, if you want to maybe go see that game, ask. You also have to be OK with someone saying 'No.' People can't let everyone do everything they hope but you need to advocate for yourself because a lot of times people might not always be thinking about what you need if they're managing 50 other people. Advocate for yourself but be aware that people can't always say 'yes' so you have to take things in stride.”

— Kate Madigan, Assistant General Manager, New Jersey Devils (NHL.com)

What’s next

Madigan will continue to work towards her goal of winning multiple Stanley Cups with the New Jersey Devils, while also advocating for greater inclusion and representation of women and people of color in the NHL.

The takeaway

Kate Madigan's journey to becoming an assistant general manager in the NHL is an inspiring story that highlights the progress being made in the inclusion of women and people of color in professional sports, particularly in hockey. Her commitment to creating pipelines and opportunities for qualified individuals, as well as her desire to be a role model for young girls and women, underscores the importance of diversity and representation in the industry.