Ray Shero’s Lasting Impact on the NHL
NHL executive Ray Shero has passed away at 62. However, to the hockey world, he was much more than a business executive. Highly respected throughout the league, Shero built championship-caliber teams from the ground up, helping shape and elevate two major franchises. He was known for his fearless leadership, sharp vision, and deep commitment to player development. Shero’s legacy is undeniable, and the impact he’s had on the NHL is profound. His influence will continue to echo through the league for generations to come. In honor of Shero, here are some of the defining highlights from his career.
Shero was an instrumental figure in the careers of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, the core of the modern-era Pittsburgh Penguins. After being hired as the team’s general manager in 2006, Shero took the immense potential of these generational talents and helped turn them into real, sustained success. He built a roster around established players like Chris Kunitz and Marian Hossa and made a bold midseason coaching decision by hiring Dan Bylsma at a crucial point in the team’s journey. His ability to balance superstar talent with critical depth created one of the league’s most dominant and exciting teams.
The ultimate payoff for Shero’s work came in 2009 when the Penguins captured the Stanley Cup in a thrilling seven-game series against the Detroit Red Wings. It was a testament to Shero’s fearless approach to management — from intelligent drafting to bold trades and pivotal coaching changes. His midseason moves were not only tactical but transformative, helping steer the Penguins to a historic turnaround just before the playoffs. That championship wasn’t just a win for the players — it was the validation of Shero’s blueprint for how a modern NHL team should be built and led.
However, Shero’s influence didn’t stop in Pittsburgh. In 2015, he took over a struggling New Jersey Devils franchise that had lost its sense of identity. Shero shifted the team’s focus to youth and long-term development, beginning another rebuild with his trademark strategic vision. One of his most talked-about moves was acquiring former number-one overall pick Taylor Hall from the Edmonton Oilers — a trade that stunned the hockey world. That gamble paid off when Hall won the Hart Trophy in 2018. Shero also oversaw the drafting of cornerstone players like Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes, laying the groundwork for the Devils' bright future. Today, as playoff hockey returns to New Jersey, his fingerprints remain on the team's success and ongoing trajectory.
Ray Shero’s passing is a profound loss for the hockey world — not just for what he accomplished, but for how he did it. He was a builder in every sense of the word: a builder of teams, a builder of culture, and a builder of lasting relationships. It’s rare to come across a businessman who treats players like people and who leads an organization as more than just a business or a number on a check. His compassion and conviction made him stand out, and the lessons he taught — about resilience, leadership, and believing in the bigger picture — will continue to live on. Thank you, Ray Shero. This game is better because of you.
