Longtime NHL GM and executive Ray Shero died at 62 years old.
Shero was a senior advisor with the Minnesota Wild, which announced the news on Wednesday.
“The Minnesota Wild is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Ray Shero,” the team wrote. “Our hearts go out to his family and friends and the countless people he impacted in the hockey community throughout his successful career. Ray was the best. He will be greatly missed by all of us.”
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman also offered his condolences to the Shero family and shared what he remembered about him and his presence.
“Ray Shero’s smile and personality lit up every room he walked into and brightened the day of everyone he met,” Bettman said.
“Whenever we ran into each other at a rink when he was scouting, it was clear he loved what he was doing, and I always marvelled at his infectious enthusiasm. The (NHL) family mourns his passing and sends our deepest condolences to the Shero family and Ray’s many friends.”
Vice president and director of NHL Central Scouting, Dan Marr, also remembered Shero’s love for scouting.
“He loved being in the rinks with scouts at games and tournaments and was very forward-thinking in approaching new concepts concerning the NHL draft combine and NHL draft,” Marr said.
Shero was in his fourth season as a senior advisor to GM Bill Guerin and the Wild organization. Before that, he was GM of the New Jersey Devils for five seasons and the Pittsburgh Penguins for eight seasons. Before that, he started off as an assistant GM for the Ottawa Senators from 1993 and 1998 and the Nashville Predators from 1998 to 2006.
Just two seasons after Shero got his first GM gig with the Penguins in 2006-07, he won the Stanley Cup in 2008-09. Later in his Pittsburgh tenure, he was named GM of the year for the 2012-13 season.
"Ray was instrumental in ushering in a new era of Penguins hockey, highlighted by the 2009 Stanley Cup championship," the Penguins said in a statement. "We extend our deepest sympathies to his family, his sons, Chris and Kyle, and all those fortunate enough to call him a friend."
After his time with the Penguins organization, he was brought on board as assistant GM for Team USA at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. He was also part of the management crew for the U.S. in the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.
USA Hockey said Shero was a significant contributor to the organization and its men's national team program.
"Ray, thank you for everything," USA Hockey said.
In 2015-16, he began a new chapter with the Devils and would stay on board for the next five seasons. He drafted players such as Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier, two centers who lead New Jersey today.
“Ray was a highly respected executive, enthusiastic mentor, and most importantly, tremendous friend to many during his time in New Jersey,” Devils GM Tim Fitzgerald said in a statement. “Ray came from a family that dedicated themselves to the game, and he continued to pass that commitment on.”