Leaf Personnel on The Move

It sounds as though it's not a question of if Rick Dudley will ultimately leave the Maple Leafs for the Montreal Canadiens, it's a question of when.

Timing is everything in hockey, and while new Habs GM Marc Bergevin has received permission to talk to Dudley from Leaf GM Brian Burke, there's some sticky issues.

Primarily, Dudley has been deeply enmeshed in Toronto's draft plans and has extensively scouted all the top prospects, including Nail Yakupov, Mikhail Grigorenko, Alex Galchenyuk and Filip Forsberg. The Leafs draft fifth overall next month, the Habs third overall. Clearly, if Dudley were to join Montreal as assistant GM, Burke would want it to be after the draft, or at least would want Dudley not to share draft info with the Canadiens.

"Nothing is decided," said Dudley today. "Am I aware Montreal has asked for permission to talk to me? Yes. Have I discussed a contract with them? No."

Dudley is regarded as one of the best pure talent scouts in the game. He worked with Bergevin in Chicago, and was immediately rumoured to be a candidate to join the new Montreal GM's front office when he was hired last week. He attended Thursday's Toronto Marlies playoff game and said at that time he had not spoken to Bergevin about a position. Subsequent to that, Bergevin asked permission to talk to him from Burke.

Leaf executive Claude Loiselle was interviewed by Montreal president Geoff Molson in his GM search, and now Dudley is being pursued. Burke's right-hand man, Dave Nonis, is locked up for at least one more season and can't discuss positions with other clubs.

There would be no compensation if Dudley joins the Habs as the NHL outlawed any requirement for teams to pay for access to coaches and executive talent after the last lockout.

 

 

Comments

[R Coutts]

If Kadri graduates to the NHL next year, as I am sure he will, he will do so at centre, a position he is better suited to play. He can thank smart management that didn"t rush him when he wash't physically ready for the NHL and great coaching from Dallas Eakins to prepare him for success when he gets there.

I can see him either centring a kid line with Frattin and D'amigo, or centering Kessel and Lupul.

[j hayes]

I am quite surprised Damien that you have not created a roster of Leaf players with 2012 stats, to demonstrate the horrid mistakes made by Burke and Wilson over the past few years. I blame Wilson mostly because it seemed that if he didn't like a player for any reason that Burke would move him. For example: Brent Coliacovo,Steen, Stahlberg, Versteeg,tlusty, Harrison, Antropov,Ponikarovsky, and several others and maybe even Mats!! A pretty good team. Blowing up a team is crazy and this proves it. Would like to see your team though as there are a lot of Leafs out there having good years.

[B Slaven]

I have been a leaf fan for years,but the truth is they will be as bad next season as they were this past one. As long as the leaf organization is more passionate about their bottom line than the blue line nothing will ever change.The leafs have had some good players over the years but alot of their players wouldn't be the stars they are in lesser markets.there aren't too many other professional sports teams out there that lose as bad as they do and when they get the chance to rebuild with great draft picks ,trade them away to other teams so their fans can have the privilege of watching some other team hoist the cup year after year. their apologies ring hollow with me .They say the NHL is in the entertainment business. I guess somebody forgot to tell the leafs