In a somber week for hockey fans, we've lost another influential figure in the NHL world. Just on the heels of paying respects to Greg Millen, the Penguins family received the heartbreaking news that former Stanley Cup-winning General Manager Ray Shero has passed away at the age of 63.
Ray Shero carved a significant legacy in Pittsburgh, joining the Penguins in 2006 and quickly making his mark. Under his stewardship, the Penguins found themselves in back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals in 2008 and 2009, with the crowning moment coming as they clinched the championship in 2009. It seems the apple didn’t fall far from the tree, as Ray followed in the footsteps of his father, Fred Shero, who famously guided the Philadelphia Flyers to Cup victories in 1974 and 1975.
Before his successful stint with the Penguins, Shero honed his executive skills with the Ottawa Senators and Nashville Predators, serving crucial developmental roles from 1993 to 2006. Though his time with the Penguins concluded in 2014 after a second-round playoff exit, Shero's career trajectory never waned. Just a year later, the New Jersey Devils recognized his expertise, bringing him on board as their general manager on May 4, 2015.
Shero navigated the Devils' ship for five years, steering them through various transitions until Lou Lamoriello took over in January 2020. His passion for hockey remained unshaken as he later contributed as an advisor to the Minnesota Wild, sharing his vast hockey intelligence.
Ray’s journey in hockey began on the draft floor, taken by the Los Angeles Kings in 1982. Though he never skated onto an NHL rink in a playing capacity, his college days at St. Lawrence University, where he captained the team, laid the groundwork for his storied career off the ice.
Our thoughts are with the Shero family and the broader hockey community as we remember a man whose contributions to the sport have left an indelible mark. Ray Shero was more than a name on the Stanley Cup; he was a visionary and a leader whose presence will be deeply missed.
