TORONTO - Brendan Shanahan has reached out to one of his greatest mentors to be general manager of the Maple Leafs.
Lou Lamoriello, who spent 28 years with the New Jersey Devils, will be introduced at a Thursday afternoon press conference as the 16th GM in Leaf history. Lamoriello, 72, just stepped away from the Devils after a successful run that included three Stanley Cups. But the Devils had fallen on hard times of late.
Leaf president Shanahan played under Lamoriello as a youngster and a veteran. The Leafs were going with an interim GM duo of Mark Hunter and Kyle Dubas, who both have expertise in scouting and junior development, meaning Lamoriello's role might be concentrated on exclusive NHL matters.