Devils' hiring of new GM long overdue, but is Ray Shero the right choice? - SI.com
Lamoriello, who held the positions of president and general manager of the Devils for more than two and a half decades, was relieved of the second half of his portfolio on Monday. He’ll remain as team president but will be replaced immediately as GM by former Pittsburgh Penguins boss Ray Shero. For all he’s accomplished—and his 2009 Hall of Fame induction pretty much says it all—the game seemed to be passing Lamoriello by. The Devils were once an elite organization, winning three Stanley Cups in the span of eight years. They’ve missed the playoffs for three consecutive seasons and have become an offensive disaster. In time, the organization came to feel as dated as orange shag carpeting. It wasn’t just a bad team. No surprise then that owners Josh Harris and Dave Blitzer, who bought the team in 2013, finally decided to do some serious renovation. But is Shero the right replacement. Things don't look quite as bleak now, but 2012 picks Derrick Pouliot (No. 8) and Olli Maatta (No. 22) are the only Shero-drafted players who made any impact with the team this past season. Not the sort of legacy that inspires confidence in his ability to recognize developing talent, and with the Devils holding the sixth pick in this year’s draft there's no room for a misstep. This will be the most important choice the team has made since 2011 when it tabbed Adam Larsson with the fourth pick. Source: www.si.com
