Lamoriello named Maple Leafs GM after resigning from Devils

The Canadian Press

TORONTO - The Toronto Maple Leafs pulled off the stunner of the NHL off-season, hiring Lou Lamoriello as their new general manager.

Lamoriello spent 27 seasons as GM of the New Jersey Devils before stepping down in May.

The 72-year-old Hockey Hall of Famer has three Stanley Cups on his resume, and the Devils made the final in 2012. But New Jersey missed the playoffs the past three years, leading to Ray Shero replacing Lamoriello as GM.

Toronto had been without a GM since president Brendan Shanahan fired Dave Nonis after the Leafs missed the playoffs for the second straight year.

Shanahan left open the possibility of GM by committee with himself, Kyle Dubas, Mark Hunter and Brandon Pridham all having a say.

In Lamoriello, the Leafs get veteran experience and someone who has the relationships around the league that could benefit in trade talks.

Already this summer the Leafs traded star winger Phil Kessel to the Pittsburgh Penguins, a move they made without a GM in place.

Lamoriello's hiring is the latest piece of an organizational makeover. Toronto hired Mike Babcock as coach on an eight-year contract.

New Jersey made the playoffs 21 times under Lamoriello.

"I have worked with Hall-of-Fame coaches, and players and a great staff, all of whom contributed to our success," Lamoriello said in a statement released by the Devils. "In the end, it's about the people which makes this decision so difficult."

The Devils said only that Lamoriello had resigned to pursue other job opportunities. That job was working for Shanahan, whom he drafted in 1987, his first year with New Jersey.

The move is reminiscent of the Penguins hiring Jim Rutherford a year ago. Rutherford stepped down as Carolina Hurricanes GM and was made president before leaving to take over in Pittsburgh.