Dudley leaves Canadiens to become Hurricanes' senior VP of hockey ops

The Carolina Hurricanes are turning to one of the most experienced executives in hockey as they continue to reshape their front office.

Rick Dudley is vacating his position as Montreal Canadiens senior vice president of hockey operations to join the Hurricanes in the same capacity, Carolina announced Tuesday.

Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin revealed shortly thereafter that the position Dudley most recently occupied with Montreal will not be filled.

Dudley has more than 45 years of experience in professional hockey, and worked with current Hurricanes acting GM Don Waddell with the Atlanta Thrashers from 2009-11.

He joined the Canadiens as assistant GM in 2012 and was promoted to the senior VP level in 2014.

The 69-year-old has served as GM with four NHL franchises - the Thrashers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Ottawa Senators, and Florida Panthers - and has held senior executive roles with seven clubs - the Thrashers, Lightning, Senators, Panthers, Chicago Blackhawks, Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Canadiens.

Dudley was also head coach of the Buffalo Sabres for parts of three seasons in the late 1980s and early '90s, and had a 40-game stint as the Panthers bench boss in 2003-04.

Copyright (C) 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.