Ex-Devils GM Passes Away at Age 62

Ex-New Jersey Devils general manager, Ray Shero, passed away on Wednesday at age 62.

Shero was the general manager of the Devils from May 4, 2015, to January 12, 2020.

The Devils organization mourns the passing of their former GM, and released the following statement:

“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,” said Tom Fitzgerald, President & General Manager, New Jersey Devils. “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.”

NHL Commissioner, Gary Bettman, released a statement on the sudden news as well:

“Ray Shero’s smile and personality lit up every room he walked into and brightened the day of everyone he met. Widely respected throughout hockey for his team-building acumen and eye for talent, he was even more beloved for how he treated everyone fortunate enough to have known him.

“The son of legendary NHL coach Fred Shero, Ray forged his own path in the NHL following his successful playing career at St. Lawrence University. After stints as an assistant general manager in Ottawa and Nashville, he became general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2006, and assembled the missing pieces of a team that became Stanley Cup finalists in 2008 and Stanley Cup champions in 2009. From 2015-2020, he was GM of the New Jersey Devils, drafting current stars Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier, and had spent the past four seasons as a senior advisor to Minnesota GM Bill Guerin. He also served on the United States’ management teams for the 2010 and 2014 Olympics.

“Whenever we ran into each other at a rink when he was scouting, it was clear he loved what he was doing and I always marveled at his infectious enthusiasm. The entire National Hockey League family mourns his passing and sends our deepest condolences to the Shero family and Ray’s many friends throughout the hockey world.”

Shero is responsible for much of the Devils’ current success today, such as the aforementioned drafting of Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes first overall in 2017 & 2019 respectively.

The ex-Devils GM is also responsible for drafting Jesper Bratt, the team’s current points and assists leader, in the sixth round of the 2016 NHL Draft.

Shero also orchestrated deals that benefitted the Devils over the years, such as acquiring Taylor Hall, P.K. Subban, and Nikita Gusev. He also signed names such as Wayne Simmonds, Marcus Johansson, and Brian Boyle.

In the 2017-18 season, the Devils returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2012 as a result of his roster construction. The Devils finished the season with a 44-29-9 record and secured the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Shero family requests privacy during this time during this difficult time.

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