So now after 28 years, Lou Lamoriello gets to reinvent himself in Toronto the way he never could have had the freedom to do in New Jersey.

Now, after decades through which loyalty to his people on his staff within his organization was both his most endearing quality and ultimately his greatest weakness, Lamoriello starts fresh, surrounded by new people with new ideas.

There was, these past couple of months have established, nothing left for Lamoriello in New Jersey other than to act as a hood ornament and ceremonial ribbon-cutter. With Ray Shero ensconced unambiguously as the Devils’ general manager and decider, the presidency of the Devils was going to offer no satisfaction for this 72-year-old with miles to go before he sleeps. That much is obvious.

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from Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun,

The wooing of Lou Lamoriello began as a concept and ended Thursday night in quiet celebration at a downtown Toronto restaurant.

The deal for the new general manager of the Maple Leafs is three years in length, more than $9 million in salary, and all it will cost the club to sign one of hockey’s iconic figures is a third-round draft pick down the road, the most compensation ever awarded for a 72-year-old hockey executive.

The chase began the way so many hockey negotiations begin, with Brendan Shanahan making a telephone call to Josh Harris, co-owner of the New Jersey Devils. A couple of days earlier, Ray Shero had been named GM of the Devils. Lamoriello kicked himself upstairs, or so the story went.

Shanahan wondered: Would his old mentor have any interest in working for him in Toronto?

He called the Devils and requested permission to talk to Lamoriello about the Leafs’ GM opening.

Harris wasn’t exactly welcoming.

“Let me call you back,” he said.

One day later, still surprised by the Leafs’ request, Harris reluctantly agreed.

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