This was, in the end, the rare leadership change in professional sports that made sense for everybody.
It made sense for Lou Lamoriello to take the plunge as general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, because he knew he was ill-suited for what essentially had become a well-paid advisory role with the new direction the Devils -- his Devils -- were headed.
Ray Shero, the new general manager, had hired new head coach John Hynes, called the shots during the entry draft, and in what had to be the final straw, fired Lamoriello's long-time right-hand man, scouting director David Conte.