Lou Lamoriello, the longest serving General Manager in the NHL, has stepped aside.
The New Jersey Devils organization announced on a conference call today that Lamoriello intended to step aside, with former Pittsbrugh Penguins GM Ray Shero taking over responsibility as the team’s general manager.
“This is my decision with 100 percent support of ownership,” Lamoriello said on the conference call, adding that he would retain his role as president of hockey operations. “Ray is well-respected throughout the hockey industry and knows what it takes to win. His 22 seasons of NHL front-office experience will be beneficial to the New Jersey Devils organization. I look forward to working alongside Ray.”
At 72 years old, Lamoriello help take the organization to three Stanley Cup championships between 1987 and 2012, only missing the playoffs three times within that span. However, the team has failed to make the postseason in each of the last three seasons,with Lamoriello shouldering much of the criticism following several failed free agent acquisitions.
Shero won one Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009. He spent eight years with the organization before being fired last summer. One of Shero’s main concerns this offseason will be to identify the next head coach for the Devils.
“It’s a great situation for me,” Shero said during the conference call. “I’m really looking forward to it.”
