Jeff Kealty, a long‑time member of the Nashville Predators' front office, announced his move to the San Jose Sharks, where he will serve as assistant general manager. His departure follows the resignation of Ryane Clowe, who created the vacancy that the Sharks are now filling.
A quarter‑century of scouting and talent building
Kealty spent 25 years with Nashville, the last eight as assistant general manager, and was instrumental in scouting and acquiring talent for the club. He originally joined the organization at the start of the 2001‑02 season as an amateur scout and later rose to Director of Amateur Scouting, a role he held until 2018.
Over the past eight seasons he served simultaneously as Director of Scouting and Assistant General Manager, overseeing the team's player development pipeline and contributing to the Predators' sustained competitiveness.
International spotlight
Beyond the NHL, Kealty took on a high‑profile role as General Manager of Team USA at the 2025 World Championship, guiding the Americans to a gold medal — the first for the United States since 1933. His performance in that capacity kept him on the radar during the Predators' recent general manager search.
During that search, Kealty interviewed for the Predators' top job, a process that underscored his reputation as a knowledgeable executive with both domestic and international credentials.
Chris MacFarland, the Predators' general manager, publicly thanked Kealty for his contributions and wished him well in his new role, acknowledging the significant impact he had on the organization's talent acquisition strategy.
Kealty's move to San Jose marks a new chapter that could reshape the Sharks' roster construction, bringing a blend of scouting depth and front‑office experience that the franchise hopes will translate into future success.