Kevin Cheveldayoff, the assistant GM with the Chicago Blackhawks, reportedly has accepted the GM position with Winnipeg's new NHL franchise.
League sources told the Winnipeg Free Press and Winnipeg Sun on Tuesday that Cheveldayoff will leave his assistant GM post with Chicago to become GM with the Winnipeg organization. Both papers report the move will be made official at a news conference Wednesday afternoon.
As GM, Cheveldayoff led the Chicago Wolves to two IHL Turner Cups and two AHL Calder Cups before moving to the NHL with the Hawks and immediately winning a Stanley Cup in 2009-10. Cheveldayoff's teams compiled a .615 regular-season winning percentage and 10 playoff berths in 12 seasons from 1997-2009.
As a player, he was drafted by the New York Islanders with their first pick (No. 16) in 1988, but a knee injury ended his pro career after five seasons.
The Wolves have been the top minor-league affiliate of the Atlanta Thrashers, who are moving to Winnipeg, meaning that Cheveldayoff is familiar with many of the players in the organization.
According to the Winnipeg Sun, Cheveldayoff will join Manitoba Moose holdover Craig Heisinger as the two key figures in the team's front office.
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