Canadiens assistant GM Scott Mellanby resigns, Jeff Gorton considered for front office role

Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman discuss all the big news around the NHL including possible changes coming to the Canadiens front office.

Montreal Canadiens assistant general manager Scott Mellanby has resigned, the team confirmed on Saturday.

"The Montreal Canadiens announce that Scott Mellanby resigned from his role as assistant general manager today," the team posted in a three-paragraph statement on its website. "The organization would like to thank Scott for his contributions to the team during his time with the Canadiens. The team will not comment further at this time."

The resignation was first reported by Michael Russo of The Athletic and Andy Strickland of Bally Sports Midwest.

The move could be the first of a number of changes to the Canadiens front office, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported during the 32 Thoughts segment on Hockey Night in Canada. General manager Marc Bergevin, who has held that role since 2012, is in the final year of his contract and, according to Friedman, is not expected to return next season.

Friedman reported that Mellanby, who was one of Bergevin's first hires in 2012 and was promoted to assistant GM in 2014, was Bergevin's choice to replace him as GM. But, Friedman adds, the club informed Mellanby this week that he was not in the running for an elevated role, which led to his resignation Saturday.

The Canadiens have spoken to former Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton about a role in the organization, Friedman reported, but that role is not general manager and could instead be in line to serve as president of hockey operations or a similar role.

"It appears as if major changes are coming to Montreal and I think Jeff Gorton is going to be a big part of that," Friedman said.

The Rangers fired Gorton and team president John Davidson on May 5 in a move that surprised the hockey world. Chris Drury replaced both as president and GM.

The Canadiens, without captain Shea Weber and star goalie Carey Price, are 5-15-2 this season after making an appearance in the Stanley Cup Final last season.

Sportsnet's Jeff Marek reported Saturday that the team has not reached out to Patrick Roy about a role in the organization.

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