The Toronto Maple Leafs pulled off the stunner of the off-season, hiring Lou Lamoriello as their new general manager.
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The timing is interesting, sure, but perhaps what’s ever more fascinating is how Lamoriello was so sure he was going to stay with the Devils – as recently as early May – telling the press he was “not going anywhere”, despite stepping down as GM (but remaining as president).
“Lou Lamoriello created and defined what it meant to be a New Jersey Devil”, Devils co-owner Josh Harris said in a statement announcing Lamoriello’s resignation. The run included 13 consecutive postseason berths from 1997-2010 and New Jersey finished with a winning record every season from 1992-93 through 2009-10.
New Jersey did not compensate Pittsburgh for the Shero hire.
Lou Lamoriello brings a boatload of experience to the Leafs, including five Stanley Cup appearances and three rings. Maple Leafs President Brendan Shanahan said Thursday he wanted National Hockey League experience, and he got nearly three decades of it in Lamoriello.
Lamoriello takes over a front office that includes assistants Mark Hunter, Kyle Dubas and Brandon Pridham. “In addition, the organization afforded me the opportunity to work for two other individuals that greatly impacted my life, Dr. John J”.
For all the suggested candidates and all the rumors surrounding the general manager position of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Lou Lamoriello’s name never came up.
Still, while Lamoriello may be advancing in age, he should be well-buffered in Toronto by the presence of both Shanahan and new Leafs head coach Mike Babcock.
Yes. But it’s not hard to see the connection between Lamoriello and the Leafs organization.
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The Devils won the Stanley Cup championship in 1995, 2000 and 2003, falling short in the Cup Finals in 2001 and again in 2012. “He has quickly and decisively put his stamp on this organization, and we are excited about the direction of New Jersey Devils Hockey under his guidance”.
