Leafs hire ex-GM Rick Dudley
The Toronto Maple Leafs have hired former Atlanta Thrashers general manager Rick Dudley, Leafs GM Brian Burke confirmed to ESPN.com.
Dudley does not have an official title yet, but Burke said the former Blackhawks assistant GM would be a premier talent evaluator with the Leafs.
Burnside: No surprise Dudley is off market
It's not surprising that former Atlanta Thrashers general manager Rick Dudley was without work for only a matter of days, writes Scott Burnside. Blog
Dudley, 62, lost his GM job with the Thrashers when the club moved to Winnipeg, and the new owners chose Kevin Cheveldayoff as their new general manager. Several clubs contacted Dudley.
"There were a lot of people who talked to me," Dudley told ESPN.com. "But partly because it was Brian and partly because it was the Leafs, it was very appealing to be part of that resurgence. The Leafs are going to have success in Toronto and to be around and be part of it all will be exciting to say the least."
Dudley has been a GM with the Ottawa Senators, Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers. He also was coach of the Panthers and Buffalo Sabres.
Pierre LeBrun covers the NHL for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
- Covers the NHL for ESPN.com and TSN of Canada
- Six years on the "Hockey Night In Canada" Hotstove panel
- 13 years at The Canadian Press National News Agency
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