Panthers' Youth Movement Gets GM Fired

Tired of seeing too much future and not enough right now, the Florida Panthers are starting over. Rick Dudley has been fired as general manager, with a replacement to be named Wednesday.

In two years on the job, Dudley helped build an outstanding group of young prospects. Defensemen Jay Bouwmeester and Bratislav Mezei and forwards Nathan Horton and Juraj Kolnik are among those who joined the team during his tenure. It was also under Dudley that goaltender Roberto Luongo emerged as a star.

Inevitably, some of the young players disappointed, as so many do at the professional level. But the emphasis on youth is already paying dividends. Luongo's development is the obvious example. Horton and Bouwmeester are also well ahead of most players at their ages.

The Panthers improved their point total in each of the two years Dudley was in charge, but failed to make the playoffs.

There are rumors that Dudley will be replaced by the man he fired as Florida's coach back in November. TSN.ca reports that Mike Keenan will take over as GM, with former Ottawa coach Jacques Martin moving in behind the bench.