If Lou Lamoriello wants David Conte to come work for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Conte said he would consider it.
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"I'd be lying if I said it didn't cross my mind," Conte told the Toronto Sun in remarks published Saturday. "... I'm interested in working. I still have to take stock (of my life). I'm not used to having time off. I've done this a long time."
Conte worked for Lamoriello for all of Lamoriello's 28 years as general manager of the New Jersey Devils, the last 22 as director of scouting.
Ray Shero was hired to replace Lamoriello as Devils GM on May 4, and the Devils on July 9 said they would not be renewing Conte's contract.
Lamoriello resigned from the Devils on July 23 to become general manager of the Maple Leafs.
Conte told the Sun that Lamoriello called him every day after he was let go, including to tell him he was going to Toronto.
"Like everybody, I was shocked," Conte said. "Usually when he's calling, he's asking about me."
Lamoriello was asked that day if he could see Conte joining him in Toronto and said, "I don't think that's a fair question right now because I have to come in here and see exactly what it's all about."
Conte, 66, worked for the Devils since 1984 and helped them win the Stanley Cup three times (1995, 2000, 2003). New Jersey drafted, among others, Brendan Shanahan, Bill Guerin, Martin Brodeur, Scott Niedermayer, Brian Rolston, Sergei Brylin, Patrik Elias, Scott Gomez, Brian Gionta, Petr Sykora, Paul Martin and Zach Parise.
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