Montreal Canadiens: Is not filling Rick Dudley’s position the right move?

CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 24: (L-R) Assistant general manager Rick Dudley, VP of Player Personnel Trevor Timins, Cale Fleury, 87th overall pick of the Montreal Canadiens, and scout Shane Churla of the Montreal Canadiens pose for a photo on the drat floor during the 2017 NHL Draft at United Center on June 24, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 24: (L-R) Assistant general manager Rick Dudley, VP of Player Personnel Trevor Timins, Cale Fleury, 87th overall pick of the Montreal Canadiens, and scout Shane Churla of the Montreal Canadiens pose for a photo on the drat floor during the 2017 NHL Draft at United Center on June 24, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)

Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin announced that the position Rick Dudley filled will not be filled, but is that the right thing to do?

The biggest change to the Montreal Canadiens front office came with the transition of Rick Dudley to the Carolina Hurricanes. Dudley had been part of the Habs organization since 2012 as the team’s assistant general manager and was promoted to Senior VP of hockey operations. Whether this move was one of the changes in scouting Marc Bergevin hinted at a few weeks ago is still up in the air, but it’s a change nonetheless.

The team’s pro scouting is going to be affected the most as that was what Dudley was responsible for. Considering the number of transitions that could come Montreal’s way regarding player personnel, taking away one of the older voices in front office may work in the long run (even though it was due to a contract expiration).

Bergevin mentioned on the day of Dudley’s move was that his position wouldn’t be filled. Now that could be a, “his position won’t be filled for now,” but there’s a large layer of mystery around it.

Some of the best management teams in the NHL have several people around the table. More often than not, the more voices and hockey minds at the ready willing to say their piece, the better. The Montreal Canadiens will be an even better organization as a whole if they can find someone with Dudley’s knowledge and experience, with a more adaptable palate.

It’s not the end all be all, but it could do wonders considering the magnitude of this offseason.

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