The New Jersey Devils have named Ray Shero general manager, president Lou Lamoriello announced Monday afternoon during an impromptu conference call.
Lamoriello, 72, will remain as president of the club, assuring, “I’m not going anywhere. I’m here.” He said stepping down from the GM role was “100 per cent” his decision.
“This is a great opportunity for me and my family,” Shero, 52, said. “I’m really looking forward to it.”
The new general manager said he would focus on generating more goals, trying to augment the Devils’ solid tradition of goaltending with “more of an offensive philosophy.”
Lamoriello said it was “extremely important” for him to find a GM with a winning track record.
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Shero was fired by the Pittsburgh Penguins at the end of the 2013-14 season. He becomes the fourth GM in the history of the Devils.
One of Shero’s first tasks will be finding a new head coach for the team, which was co-coached by Scott Stevens and Adam Oates during the second half of 2014-15.
The scouting staff remains in tact at this point.
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After honing his chops as an assistant general manager in Ottawa, Shero served as GM of the Penguins from 2006-07 through 2013-14, when he was in charge with complementing stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin with the proper supporting cast.
Pittsburgh’s 2009 Stanley Cup victory run was bolstered by Shero’s trade deadline acquisitions of forwards Chris Kunitz and Bill Guerin.
Once five seasons passed and the Penguins failed to turn that championship into a dynasty, Shero was let go even though he was still under contract.
Both Lamoriello and Shero thanked Penguins CEO and president David Morehouse and the club’s ownership Monday for cooperating in the process.
No compensation changed hands in the hiring of Shero, Lamoriello said.
Lamoriello has led the Devils since 1987, overseeing three Stanley Cup victories and amassing a .578 winning percentage.
After reaching the Cup final in 2012, however, the Devils have missed the post-season three years running.
