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Ray Shero, a longtime NHL executive who helped shape the current generation of the New Jersey Devils during his time as general manager, died Wednesday at the age of 62.
Shero began his career as an executive in the league, an assistant GM with the Ottawa Senators from 1993-98. He then went to the Nashville Predators in the same role for their first season as a franchise in 1998 until 2006.
The Pittsburgh Penguins would hire Shero in 2006 to become their general manager, where he would build a championship contender. From 2006-14, Shero would see the Penguins reach consecutive Stanley Cup finals and win the Cup in 2009.
Following the resignation of Lou Lamoriello in July 2015, Shero was hired as just the fourth general manager in New Jersey Devils history. The Devils reached the playoffs once under Shero, qualifying in the 2017-18 season before a first-round playoff loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Shero was let go in January 2020, replaced by current Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald.
“On behalf of the ownership, management, staff, and players of the New Jersey Devils, we are all stunned and deeply saddened by the passing of former General Manager Ray Shero,”Fitzgerald said in a statement.
“Ray was a highly-respected executive, enthusiastic mentor, and most importantly, tremendous friend to many during his time in New Jersey. Ray came from a family that dedicated themselves to the game, and he continued to pass that commitment on. The organization is extremely grateful for the impact Ray had during his tenure in New Jersey, and it is without question that his fingerprints are on the current group we see today both on and off the ice. We send our sincere condolences to his family, and countless friends throughout the hockey world.”
Among the notable acquisitions made under Shero's Devils tenure was the 2016 trade that acquired Taylor Hall from the Edmonton Oilers. Hall would become the only player in Devils history to win the Hart Memorial Trophy during the 2017-18 season. Shero was also the GM when the Devils drafted current stars such as Jesper Bratt, Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes.
Shero was also an executive for U.S. men's hockey teams for the 2010 and 2014 Olympics and had spent the past four seasons as a senior adviser to Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin.
Shero was the son of legendary NHL coach Fred Shero, a Hall of Famer who played for the New York Rangers from 1947-1958 and was a coach for the Philadelphia Flyers from 1971-78, winning the Stanley Cup twice in 1974 and 1975, and the Rangers (1978-81).
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Ray Shero: Former NJ Devils GM and longtime NHL executive, dies at 62
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Shero began his career as an executive in the league, an assistant GM with the Ottawa Senators from 1993-98. He then went to the Nashville Predators in the same role for their first season as a franchise in 1998 until 2006.
The Pittsburgh Penguins would hire Shero in 2006 to become their general manager, where he would build a championship contender. From 2006-14, Shero would see the Penguins reach consecutive Stanley Cup finals and win the Cup in 2009.
Ray Shero's impact as Devils general manager
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Following the resignation of Lou Lamoriello in July 2015, Shero was hired as just the fourth general manager in New Jersey Devils history. The Devils reached the playoffs once under Shero, qualifying in the 2017-18 season before a first-round playoff loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Shero was let go in January 2020, replaced by current Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald.
“On behalf of the ownership, management, staff, and players of the New Jersey Devils, we are all stunned and deeply saddened by the passing of former General Manager Ray Shero,”Fitzgerald said in a statement.
“Ray was a highly-respected executive, enthusiastic mentor, and most importantly, tremendous friend to many during his time in New Jersey. Ray came from a family that dedicated themselves to the game, and he continued to pass that commitment on. The organization is extremely grateful for the impact Ray had during his tenure in New Jersey, and it is without question that his fingerprints are on the current group we see today both on and off the ice. We send our sincere condolences to his family, and countless friends throughout the hockey world.”
Among the notable acquisitions made under Shero's Devils tenure was the 2016 trade that acquired Taylor Hall from the Edmonton Oilers. Hall would become the only player in Devils history to win the Hart Memorial Trophy during the 2017-18 season. Shero was also the GM when the Devils drafted current stars such as Jesper Bratt, Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes.
Shero was also an executive for U.S. men's hockey teams for the 2010 and 2014 Olympics and had spent the past four seasons as a senior adviser to Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin.
Shero was the son of legendary NHL coach Fred Shero, a Hall of Famer who played for the New York Rangers from 1947-1958 and was a coach for the Philadelphia Flyers from 1971-78, winning the Stanley Cup twice in 1974 and 1975, and the Rangers (1978-81).
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Ray Shero: Former NJ Devils GM and longtime NHL executive, dies at 62
Continue reading...
