Canadiens extend contract of scouting director Timmins, add two scouts

MONTREAL - The Montreal Canadiens extended the contract of amateur scouting director Trevor Timmins and added two scouts to their staff on Friday.

In 11 years with the Canadiens, Timmins and his staff have drafted several impressive young players, including goaltender Carey Price, defencemen P.K. Subban and Alexei Emelin and forward Max Pacioretty.

The length or other terms of the contract were not disclosed.

The team also signed former player Donald Audette as an amateur scout for Quebec and Mark Mowers as professional scout for the Eastern Conference. Among those Audette will watch is his son Daniel, who was taken first overall in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League draft by the expansion Sherbrooke Phoenix.

"The Montreal Canadiens organization is very proud of the work that Trevor Timmins has done in terms of player scouting and development over his time with the team and we are very happy to count on his services for years to come," general manager Marc Bergevin said in a statement.

"We agree with Trevor and his group on the necessity of adding an amateur scout in Quebec, and we are pleased to welcome Donald Audette, who will now occupy this position for the team."

The team has come under criticism in recent years for not watching Quebec players close enough and seeing many of the best players selected by other clubs.

The 42-year-old is also governor and general manager of the Esther-Blondin College in the Quebec midget AAA league and will serve as head coach of Team Quebec at the 2013 world under-17 Hockey challenge in Victoriaville and Drummondville, Que.