Lamoriello timeline highlighted by three Cup wins

Thursday, 07.23.2015 / 10:24 AM
Adam Kimelman  - NHL.com Deputy Managing Editor

The banners that hang from the ceiling of Prudential Center are there in part because of how Lou Lamoriello ran the New Jersey Devils for 28 years as general manager.

Lamoriello, the longest-serving GM in the NHL, relinquished that position May 4 and hired Ray Shero to replace him. Lamoriello, 72, remained as president of the Devils, but he resigned that position as well Thursday and was named general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Under Lamoriello's leadership the Devils went to the Stanley Cup Playoffs 21 times, won nine division titles, went to the Stanley Cup Final five times and won the Cup in 1995, 2000 and 2003.

Here are some highlights from Lamoriello's tenure with the Devils:

April 30, 1987: The Devils, after their second straight sixth-place finish in the Patrick Division and a fifth straight season out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, hire Providence College athletic director Lou Lamoriello as president. Days before the start of the 1987-88 season, Lamoriello names himself as general manager. Though successful as coach of the Providence College men's hockey team from 1968-82 and as AD at Providence, Lamoriello is not well-known among NHL fans.

June 13, 1987: In the Devils' first draft under Lamoriello they select forward Brendan Shanahan with the No. 2 pick. Shanahan goes on to play five seasons in two stints with the Devils and is currently team president of the Maple Leafs.

April 3, 1988: John MacLean's overtime goal against the Chicago Blackhawks on the final day of the regular season gets the Devils into the playoffs for the first time since moving to New Jersey in 1982. They advance to the Wales Conference Final.

Oct. 5, 1989: Lamoriello watches as Viacheslav Fetisov makes his NHL debut. Lamoriello had spent more than a year on making Fetisov one of the first Russian-born players to reach the League.

Oct. 16, 1989: Trades defenseman Tom Kurvers to the Toronto Maple Leafs for a first-round pick in the 1991 NHL Draft. The Devils end up with the third pick in the draft and select defenseman Scott Niedermayer.

June 16, 1990: On the advice of his scouts, Lamoriello uses the 20th pick of the 1990 draft to select goaltender Martin Brodeur.

Sept. 4, 1990: Traded forward Sylvain Turgeon to the Montreal Canadiens for forward Claude Lemieux.

Sept. 3, 1991: Acquired defenseman Scott Stevens from the St. Louis Blues as compensation for the Blues signing Shanahan as a free agent.

1992: Awarded the Lester Patrick Trophy for outstanding service to hockey in the United States.

June 24, 1995: Niedermayer assisted on Neal Broten's go-ahead goal in the second period and the Devils completed a four-game sweep of the Detroit Red Wings with a 5-2 win at Brendan Byrne Arena to win the Stanley Cup. Lemieux led all players with 13 goals and was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy.

Sept. 14, 1996: Lamoriello, general manager of the United States, celebrates as the U.S. beats Canada 5-2 to win the gold medal at the World Cup of Hockey.

February 7-22, 1998: Serves as general manager of the United States for the 1998 Nagano Olympics, the first time NHL players participate. The U.S. finished sixth.

March 23, 2000: Lamoriello fires coach Robbie Ftorek with eight games left in the regular season and promotes assistant coach Larry Robinson.

June 10, 2000: Jason Arnott scored at 11:42 of the second overtime in Game 6 of the Cup Final against the Dallas Stars, giving the Devils a 2-1 victory and the franchise its second championship. Stevens won the Conn Smythe Trophy.

June 9, 2001: The Devils lose 3-1 to the Colorado Avalanche in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.

March 19, 2002: Acquires forwards Jamie Langenbrunner and Joe Nieuwendyk from the Stars for Arnott, Randy McKay and first-round pick in the 2002 draft.

June 9, 2003: Brodeur makes 24 saves when the Devils defeat the Anaheim Ducks 3-0 in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. Langenbrunner's 11 goals lead all players in the postseason, and his 18 points are tied with Niedermayer for the League lead.

Dec. 19, 2005: Takes over as coach after Robinson resigns and leads Devils to Eastern Conference semifinals. After the season he gives up the coaching job.

April 2, 2007: Fires coach Claude Julien and appoints himself interim coach.

Nov. 4, 2009: New York Yankees defeat the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 6 of the World Series. Lamoriello, a minority owner of the Yankees, receives a championship ring.

Nov. 9, 2009: Inducted into Hockey Hall of Fame in the builders category.

Feb. 4, 2010: Acquires forward Ilya Kovalchuk from the Atlanta Thrashers for defenseman Johnny Oduya, forwards Niclas Bergfors and Patrice Cormier, and first- and second-round picks in the 2010 draft.

June 11, 2012: Devils lose 6-1 to Los Angeles Kings in Game 6 of Stanley Cup Final.

July 12, 2012: Inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame.

Dec. 27, 2014: Appoints himself and assistant coaches Stevens and Adam Oates co-head coaches after firing Peter DeBoer the day before. In 99 games spanning three coaching stints, Lamoriello went 54-33-12.

May 4, 2015: Announces his retirement as general manager of the Devils; remains as president.

July 23, 2015: Resigns as president of the Devils after 28 years with the organization.

July 23, 2015: Named 16th general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Follow Adam Kimelman on Twitter: @NHLAdamK

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