Lou Lamoriello resigned as president of the New Jersey Devils on Thursday in order to become the general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Lamoriello is the 16th general manager in Maple Leafs history. Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan was drafted by the Devils in 1987, the year Lamoriello took over as their president and general manager.
Lamoriello spent 28 years with the Devils, all as the general manager, before he was succeeded by Ray Shero on May 4. When Lamoriello resigned as GM, he ended his run as the longest-serving GM for one team in NHL history.
The Maple Leafs will have to send the Devils a third-round draft pick as compensation for Lamoriello, according to Sportsnet.
"I have been fortunate to have worked for [Devils co-owners] Josh Harris and David Blitzer for the past two years," Lamoriello said in a statement released by the Devils. "In addition, the organization afforded me the opportunity to work for two other individuals that greatly impacted my life, Dr. John J. McMullen and George Steinbrenner. I have worked with Hall of Fame coaches, and players and a great staff, all of whom contributed to our success. In the end, it's about the people which makes this decision so difficult."
Under Lamoriello's guidance, the Devils won the Stanley Cup three times (1995, 2000, 2003), went to the Stanley Cup Final five times, won nine division titles, and reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs 21 times, including 13 straight times from 1997-2010. The Devils also had 17 consecutive winning seasons from 1992-93 through 2009-10.
Lamoriello was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009. Three players that Lamoriello drafted, Shanahan and defensemen Scott Stevens and Scott Niedermayer, are also in the Hall of Fame. Former Devils goalie Martin Brodeur is eligible for induction in 2018.
"Lou Lamoriello created and defined what it meant to be a New Jersey Devil," Harris said in a statement. "His brilliance in shaping this franchise into one of the most storied and celebrated organizations in sport will make him a New Jersey Devil for life. He represented this organization, our current and former players, the state of New Jersey, and the greatest fans in the National Hockey League in a manner that exemplified character, class, and dignity.
"Lou's record on the ice speaks for itself and as amazing as it is, it pales in comparison to his record as a human being. His passion, integrity and leadership over the last 28 years impacted the lives of thousands, creating a lasting legacy. I have been honored to have worked with Lou over the last two years and I will forever consider it a privilege."
The Devils were 1,093-779-268 in Lamoriello's 28-year tenure. They were also 136-116 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Devils had the NHL's second-best record in the 1990s (396-275-110) and the second-best record in the 2000s (422-223-95).
Lamoriello was hired by the Devils on April 30, 1987 to be the president of the team. Shanahan, the No. 2 pick in the 1987 NHL Draft, was the first player the Devils selected under Lamoriello's guidance.
Lamoriello assumed the dual role as president and GM prior to the 1987-88 season. The Devils made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history that season.
In addition to his achievements with the Devils, Lamoriello has also been successful on the international stage with USA Hockey and previously at Providence College.
Lamoriello was the GM of the United States' World Cup of Hockey gold medal-winning team in 1996. He also was the GM for the United States in the 1998 Nagano Olympics. He received the Lester Patrick Trophy in 1992 and was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012.
He came to the Devils from Providence, where he was the athletic director after serving as the Friars coach for 15 seasons, compiling a .578 winning percentage (248-179-13). The Friars made the postseason 12 years in a row, including the 1983 Final Four.
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