Ray Shero
Rejean "Ray" Shero ( born July 28, 1962 in Saint Paul, Minnesota ) is a retired American professional ice hockey player and currently general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League.
Career
Ray Shero began his career in 1980 as a left winger at St. Lawrence University. In the NHL Entry Draft in 1982, he was selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the eleventh round at position 216, but continued to go to the university, which he led in points 1982/83 and 1983/84. He was also from 1983 to 1985 Team Captain.
In 1985 he left the University with degrees in Economics and Sociology and also ended his active career Hockey without having ever played in the NHL. In 1986 he represented the interests of NHL players as an agent. In the summer of 1993, he was appointed assistant general manager of the Ottawa Senators and remained there until November 1998 when he took up the same post at the Nashville Predators, who were in their first NHL season. He also had influence on the success of the Milwaukee Admirals, the AHL farm team the Predators, the Calder Cup win in 2004.
After almost eight years in Nashville the Pittsburgh Penguins end of May 2006 pledged him as the new general manager. A first important decision was made by Shero in June, as he picked Jordan Staal in the NHL Entry Draft in 2006 in the first round, who made the jump to the NHL squad of penguins at once. During the 2006/07 season he strengthened inter alia, the obligation of Gary Roberts, so the Penguins were able to reach the playoffs the team for the first time since 2001.
In summer 2007, Shero continued to work on the structure and especially on the future of the team when he completed a new contract until 2013 with the young star Sidney Crosby and could extend with the veterans Gary Roberts and Mark Recchi. He also undertook the experienced Darryl Sydor and Petr Sykora and coach Michel Therrien received a contract extension through 2009.
Awards and achievements
Family
Ray Sheros father Fred Shero, since 2013 a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, was a player and coach in the NHL. As a coach, he led the Philadelphia Flyers to two Stanley Cup victories and was the first recipient of the Jack Adams Award as the best coach in the NHL. In addition, he won the Calder Cup and the championship of the Central Hockey League and was honored in both leagues as the best coach.
Ray Shero is married and has two sons.