According to report from ESPN.com, Rick Dudley has been informed that he will not be retained as the general manager of the Winnipeg franchise should the Board of Governors approve the purchase and relocation of the Atlanta Thrashers to True North Sports and Entertainment.
Dudley reportedly met with True North chairman Mark Chipman in Toronto at the NHL Combine earlier this week. Dudley signed a four-year contract extension with the Thrashers in January.
Dudley was hired as the Thrashers general manager on April 24, 2010. He was able to secure former Blackahwks Dustin Byfuglien and Andrew Ladd in the offseason. Both players got off to hot starts and Byfuglien was an All-Star and early Norris Trophy candidate, but the Thrashers season fizzled and the team finished in 12th place in the Eastern Conference with 80 points.
The new Winnipeg franchise hit its mark of 13,000 season tickets sold on Saturday. The Board of Governors will meet June 21 in New York, where they will vote to approve the purchase and relocation.
Follow Dan Rosen on Twitter at: @drosennhl