Ray Shero

Could Shero be their hero?

May 10 2006

There is no resolution yet in the Bruins' hunt for a new general manager, but it appears the list is down to a precious few. Executive vice president Charles Jacobs didn't want to tip his hand, but he believes the June 1 timetable is right on target. ''I am excited about the people we've talked to," said Jacobs. ''We've had some very smart minds that I've met through the process. I wouldn't say we've made up our minds, but we have a better idea as this process has evolved [as to] exactly who we're looking for."

He said interim GM Jeff Gorton remains a top candidate. Jacobs indicated that the team is prepared to go younger and take the step into the next generation of executive.

''I don't see any merit in hiring a guy who would be in here for a short period of time," said Jacobs. ''By that, I mean, I don't want to rule anybody out because of their age, but I do think we're looking for some different people than you've seen on the list [of those available]. We're going to go about our business a little differently than we have."

One terrific choice would be 43-year-old Ray Shero, who has been the assistant GM in Nashville for eight seasons. Before that, Shero was an assistant GM in Ottawa after spending several years as a player agent. He also grew up in a hockey family. His late father, Fred Shero, coached the Philadelphia Flyers to Stanley Cups in 1974 and '75 and then was GM and coach of the Rangers from 1978-80, leading the Rangers to the Cup finals in 1979.

Ray Shero, a Minnesota native and former St. Lawrence captain, learned how to work with a salary cap before there was one mandated by the league. With the Senators and Predators, money was always an issue.

Agent Steve Bartlett, who used to work with Shero, is among those who believe Shero is the right man for the Boston job.

''I have an awful lot of respect for Ray," said Bartlett. ''He's paid his dues throughout the league and I think he's a very, very qualified person. I've known him close to 20 years. He's been an assistant general manager who has dealt with every aspect of the management role; he's not been just a figurehead.

''He was given a lot of responsibility. He dealt with trade issues and scouting and really ran the full gamut of experience. He's well-respected for his work ethic and his energy. He's a hard worker and I think he really deserves a chance, whoever hires him."

Bartlett said his relationship with Shero hasn't been all hearts and flowers. They've had some knock-down, drag-out contract battles, but he thinks Shero has the chops to be successful in the new-look NHL.

''The business continues to become more and more complex, and I think it's a job that demands a lot of experience and, at the same time, it demands a certain amount of intellect and understanding and savvy in terms of the rules and regulations and the cap issues," said Bartlett. ''A good manager finds his strengths and finds his weaknesses and brings in good people around him.

''I'm always hesitant as an agent to endorse a manager because it looks like it's self-serving, but I have tremendous respect for Ray. Quite frankly, I'm surprised it's taken this long for his name to surface as a prime candidate for these openings that have come up. My sense is he's a candidate both for Boston and for Pittsburgh."

A source in Ottawa who knows Shero said he believes Shero could bring the type of talent and stability to the Bruins that Theo Epstein has brought to the Red Sox.

''To shift into the next gear, this is really a young man's game," he said. ''I think you're going to see more and more teams following the Red Sox' lead, where you take a guy who has a college degree, who is progressive in his thinking, and who is organizationally well-rounded who has the energy to make it happen."

The source said it's more important than ever to hire well because you can't overspend, and Shero knows how to operate in such an environment.

''He learned at a very early stage in his career how to manage to a budget," he said. ''I don't think Nashville has been much different, and that bodes well for Boston because I know Jerry [Jacobs] and Harry [Sinden] are both business guys. They don't spend wildly and they expect people to be accountable. I think he's really well-positioned for the Boston job.

''I'm not always a believer that genetics are an advantage. But I do believe fundamentally in Ray's case that genetics are. His dad was an innovator for his time, he was a little bit eccentric. Ray's got the innovation skills. I don't think he has the eccentricities that his dad had.

''He looks at things from a different perspective. It doesn't always make him right, but it gives you a good sense of how he thinks about things and it really causes everybody to have an open mind before they make a decision. He's got a hockey mind, flavored with business, which is crucial in today's game, and he reaches decisions and conclusions based upon a different approach.

''People want to follow strong leaders, and Ray has that leadership capability." This report was written by Nancy Marrapese-Burrell and appeared in The Boston Globe.