Marc Bergevin will have many responsibilities as he begins his tenure as general manager of the Montreal Canadiens, but according to reports coming out Sunday he will have an experienced aide helping with the process.
TSN's Darren Dreger tweeted Sunday morning that former Atlanta Thrashers GM Rick Dudley will soon be joining Montreal's front office as an assistant general manager. Dudley, who has been working in Toronto's front office since June 2011, has previously served as GM for the Ottawa Senators, Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers.
ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun also reported the potential move, echoing that the Maple Leafs were currently in discussions with the Canadiens regarding the move and that Toronto GM Brian Burke told ESPN.com he and the Canadiens are "working through it," in an e-mail Sunday.
Prior to working for the Thrashers, who relieved Dudley of his duties when the team moved to Winnipeg following the 2010-11 season, Dudley worked as an assistant to then-Blackhawks GM Dale Tallon in Chicago, where he played a large role in rebuilding the Blackhawks. Dudley left the organization in 2009 one year before the Blackhawks won their first Stanley Cup in 49 years.
Dudley and Bergevin previously worked together in the Chicago organization.