Big Change in the Devils Front Office

Ray Shero is taking over the GM duties for the New Jersey Devils. (Photo Credit: Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

For the first time since the 1987-88 season the New Jersey Devils have a General Manager not named Lou Lamoriello. The New Jersey Devils announced on Monday that they have hired Ray Shero to be the fourth General Manager in team history.

However, Lamoriello will not be leaving the Devils organization. He will still be staying on as team president. That means between Shero and Lamoriello the Devils front office now boasts four Stanley Cup championships — the three Lamoriello won with the Devils and the one Shero won with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2008-09.

Lamoriello, speaking in a conference call on Monday, said about Shero: “I think we’ll be the beneficiary of [this hire] as an organization. The one thing that has been consistent in this organization and with every conversation I’ve had with Ray was the ability he has. He has no ego and knows the logo is the most important thing and when you get that that’s a good feeling; a very positive thing happened today.”

Shero, who also spoke Monday, was already preparing for what he needed to turn this Devils team around: “New Jersey has a foundation that for years has been built upon defensive hockey and goaltending and, looking from outside, maybe up front is an area [we will need to improve]. “ We want to build the team back to a playoff team and once we get there, stay there, and compete for a Stanley Cup again.”

Following the firing of Pete DeBoer and the third consecutive playoff-less season, a lot of fans called for Lamoriello to step down. The fact that it actually happened will prove a shock nonetheless. This is a good move for the Devils, as a fresh face in the organization will help bring in new philosophies and new players to fit those philosophies.

I would also look for Shero to try and bring in Dan Bylsma to be the new head coach of the Devils. The current free agent was the head coach of the Penguins under Shero in 2009 when the Penguins won the Stanley Cup.