The Atlanta Thrashers have named Rick Dudley associate general manager, according to Executive Vice President and General Manager Don Waddell. Dudley will be responsible for assisting in all facets of hockey operations with a primary focus on overseeing scouting and player development. He will join the club this week at the NHL Entry Draft in Montreal.
“We are pleased to announce the addition of Rick Dudley to our front office.” Waddell said. “He has had noted success at all levels as a player, coach and general manager, and his nearly 40 years of professional experience will certainly prove beneficial to our organization. His ability to both evaluate and develop talent is evident in the remarkable turnarounds made by the Tampa Bay Lightning and Chicago Blackhawks, both with players acquired during Rick’s tenure.”
Dudley, 60, comes to Atlanta after five years with the Chicago Blackhawks, where he served as the team’s assistant general manager for the last two seasons. He originally joined the Blackhawks in 2004 as a consultant and was named director of player personnel prior to the 2005-06 season.
Before joining the Blackhawks, Dudley served as the general manager of the Florida Panthers for two seasons (2002-03 to 2003-04), spent two-and-a-half seasons as senior vice president and general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning (1999-00 to 2001-02) and was general manager of the Ottawa Senators for one year (1998-99). He is credited with improving each organization he has managed, which includes playing a vital role in building the nucleus of the Lightning’s Stanley Cup Championship team.
Dudley was the general manager for the Detroit Vipers of the former International Hockey League for four seasons before joining the Senators. With the Vipers, Dudley led the team to a 200-92-35 record and the 1997 Turner Cup Championship. Overall, as a general manager he has led his teams to the league finals on eight occasions and captured four championships in the American Hockey League, the IHL and the ECHL.
Dudley also has a lengthy and successful record as a head coach in both the NHL and minor leagues, earning a lifetime record of 592-321-105. He spent two-and-a-half seasons as head coach of the Buffalo Sabres from 1989-90 to 1991-92, posting an 85-72-31 record while leading the team to the playoffs on two occasions. During the 2003-04 season, he spent 40 games behind the bench of the Florida Panthers, earning a 13-25-9-3 record.
He has also served as a head coach with the Detroit Vipers (1994-95 to 1995-96), the Phoenix Roadrunners (1993-94), the San Diego Gulls (1992-93) and the Flint Spirits (1986-87 to 1987-88) of the IHL and the New Haven Nighthawks (1988-89) of the AHL and the Carolina Thunderbirds (1982-83 to 1985-86) of the ECHL.
The Toronto, Ontario, native played seven NHL seasons with Buffalo and Winnipeg, recording 174 points (75 goals, 99 assists) in 309 games. He also appeared in 270 World Hockey Association games over four seasons with the Cincinnati Stingers, where he earned 277 points (131 goals, 146 assists) and tallied back-to-back 40-goal seasons from 1975-76 to 1976-77.
After retiring as a player, Dudley became the owner, general manager and head coach of the ECHL’s Carolina Thunderbirds. He also served as the league’s president from 1983-86. Prior to retiring, he was part owner and vice president of the Ontario Hockey League’s Belleville Bulls.
Dudley and his wife, Ja-Hee, reside in Florida and New York.
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