Ray Shero’s Best Moments As Pens GM
January 31, 2012; Pittsburgh,PA, USA: Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Ray Shero (left) and Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby at a press conference to update the status of Crosby Credit: USA Today Sports
Ray Shero has proven time and time again that he isn’t afraid to stick to his gut — even when facing criticism.
He has proven that to be the case this offseason.
Shero, who recently won General Manager of the Year this past season, has become one of the most prolific GM’s in the NHL since replacing Craig Patrick back in 2006.
Although mistakes have been made — no GM is perfect — and he is humble enough to admit them.
Sighting Rob Scuderi’s departure as a tactical error, Shero signed the stay-at-home defenseman to a four-year contract this past July 5th and admitted he should’ve never let him go in the first place.
But what’s more important is that Shero’s a winner.
Under his tenure with the Pens, the team has a record of 374-208-49 and he’s turned an Eastern Conference cellar-dweller into a cup savaging juggernaut.
Helping guide the Pens to a Stanley Cup (2009), Two Eastern Conference Titles (2008 and 2009), and multiple Atlantic Division Champions honors (2007, 2008 and 2013) — Shero’s resumé is self-explanatory.
He has even seen success steer him to much bigger honors on the national stage.
In 2010, Shero was placed on the USA Hockey Olympic Advisory Committee and this past June he was named the USA Hockey Olympic associate GM for the upcoming 2014 Winter Olympics.
Needless to say, Shero has been a standout for the Penguins in his seven years as GM.
What are his best moments though?
Let’s take a look back at the five best moves Shero has concocted since joining Pittsburgh.
5. Adding Forward Chris Kunitz
Kunitz during a March game versus the New York Islanders. Credit: Bruce Bennett, NHL Getty Images
Date: February 26th, 2009
Official Trade: Ryan Whitney to Anaheim Ducks, Chris Kunitz and signing rights of Eric Tangradi to the Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pens were on their way to another playoff berth, making it their second in a row for the 2008-2009 season.
After losing Marian Hossa to Detroit in the offseason, the Penguins were looking to trade for a forward when it came close to the trade deadline.
What they needed was to find someone to play with Sidney Crosby.
And they found that with forward Chris Kunitz.
At the time, the 28-year-old was a cornerstone talent for the Ducks and he proved to be just that when he was acquired for the Pens.
After acquiring Kunitz, the Pens had a record of 15-2-3 for their remaining scheduled contests and in those 20 regular-season games for the Pens he tallied 18 points (7G, 11A).
Kunitz was just as valuable for the Pens in the playoffs as well.
In their 2009 Stanley Cup run, Kunitz garnered 14 points (1G, 13A) for the team. The line of him, Crosby and Bill Guerin proved to be the best trio of skaters for the Pens during that postseason.
The trade was also successful because Ryan Whitney was struggling during the regular-season.
Whitney only played 28 games (due to injury) and while Whitney did have 13 points in those games, he had a disappointing minus-15 rating.
It almost seemed necessary to get rid of such a liability like Whitney.
Looking back at this trade, Shero successfully got rid of a struggling defenseman, found a good offensive talent, and gained a prospect in Eric Tangradi — who at the time had a promising outlook.
4. Welcome to Pittsburgh, Marian Hossa!
PITTSBURGH – MAY 28: Marian Hossa #18 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against the Detroit Red Wings during game three of the 2008 NHL Stanley Cup Finals at Mellon Arena on May 28, 2008 in Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania. The Penguins defeated the Red Wings 3-2 to set the series at 2-1 Red Wings. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Date: February 26th, 2008
Official Trade: Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis to Pittsburgh Penguins; Angelo Esposito, Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen and a first-round pick to the Atlanta Thrashers
Exactly a year prior to the Kunitz trade, the Pittsburgh Penguins were searching for an offensive spark.
And as Chris Kunitz did in 2009, Marian Hossa brought just that.
In 12 regular-season games with the club, Hossa potted 10 points (3G, 7A) and wasn’t done contributing.
Where he really spotlighted was in the postseason.
In the 20 games the Penguins played leading up to their loss in Game 6 to the Detroit Red Wings, Hossa notched a team-leading 12 goals.
The forward also tallied 14 assists in the postseason, putting him second in points on the team behind only Sidney Crosby, while scoring two game-winners for Pittsburgh.
Hossa was a spark for the organization and it showed when he led the team with a plus-8 rating.
While Hossa was extremely influential with the club, he unfortunately decided to move on to the Detroit Red Wings as a free agent in the offseason.
Though looking back on the trade, the Pens really didn’t give up much.
Armstrong and Christenson declined gradually in the following seasons, while Esposito never performed well on the professional level.
If anything, Shero is probably regretting the first-rounder — but for Marian Hossa, surely he’d do it again.
3. James Neal Puts On The Black and Gold
James Neal, #18 of the Pittsburgh Penguins, watches his teammates in warm-ups before a game in the 2012 season. Photo Courtesy of: http://www.fanpop.com/fans/nickfanatic_10
Date: February 21st, 2011
Official Trade: James Neal and Matt Niskanen to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Alex Goligoski to the Dallas Stars
This trade was necessary.
Ray Shero wanted to be able to contend in the playoffs and he did it the best way he could when he went out and acquired Neal.
With the team losing Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin to injuries during the 2010-2011 season, the Penguins were once again in desperate need for some help at the forward position.
There’s no question that James Neal struggled in his first couple games with the team.
The 27 games he played in with the Pens, he only registered eight points.
However the following season with the Pens, Neal was electrified when he was paired up with Russian dynamo Evgeni Malkin.
In 80 regular-season games, Neal posted 81 points (40G, 41A) — a huge upgrade from a year ago.
Earning a trip to the NHL All-Star Game that January — the trade Shero had spun was looking more genius by the minute.
Goligoski was a very good offensive defenseman in his time with the Penguins, posting 31 points in his departing season.
However, he lacked quality defensive ability — which case has really shown in his time with the Dallas Stars so far.
Although this trade was highly criticized when it first occurred (even by me), it turned out successful for the Pens in the long run.
2. Acquiring Forward Bill Guerin
RALEIGH, NC – MAY 26:
Eric Staal#12 of the Carolina Hurricanes defends against Bill Guerin #13 of the Pittsburgh Penguins during Game Four of the Eastern Conference Championship Round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs at RBC Center on May 26, 2009 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Pittsburgh won the game 4-1 to complete a four game sweep. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Date: March 4th, 2009
Official Trade: Bill Guerin to the Pittsburgh Penguins, conditional pick (third-round) to the New York Islanders
As previously referenced back in moment number five, the Pens were in need of wingers to play with Sidney Crosby.
Why not four-time All-Star Bill Guerin?
Guerin was the perfect fit for the Pens in their run for the Stanley Cup — that eventually led to them winning it.
Bringing a boat-load of offensive skill, the two-way forward also stood as a key veteran presence in the locker room.
In the 24 postseason games it took for the organization to win the cup, Guerin chipped in 15 points (7G, 8A) and had plus-8 rating.
Guerin also had two game-winning goals for the team in their first two series’ of the playoffs.
Deciding to stay another year before retiring with the club, Guerin played in 95 regular-season games for the Pens and scored a total of 57 points (26G, 31A).
A year after Guerin retired, he was hired as a player development coach with Pittsburgh and continues to be a huge factor in the future of the franchise.
Just another product of Shero’s master-mind.
1. Franchise Players Locked Up
#87 Sidney Crosby and #71 Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins set up their powerplay during a 2012 regular season game. Photo Credits: Gregory Shamus/NHLI/Getty Images
Dates: Crosby-July 1st, 2012 ; Malkin-June 13th, 2013
Official Contracts: Crosby, 12-years/$104.4 million; Malkin, 8-years/$76 million
There’s no doubt that Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby have been the best two players for the Pens.
They’ve combined for Three Art Ross Trophies, Eight All-Star appearances, Two Hart Trophies, Six All-Star selections, Two Ted Lindsey Awards, a Conn Smythe Trophy, a Calder Trophy and a Stanley Cup.
So you can’t blame Ray Shero for locking up his two star centers.
Since Crosby’s debut with the Penguins in the 2005-2006 season, he has 665 points (238G, 427A) in 470 games and throughout his career, he is averaging 1.41 points-per-game.
If that stands, it’ll be the fourth best points-per-game average in NHL history.
That’s just his regular-season statistics.
In 82 postseason contests, Crosby has 105 points (40G, 65A and in their 2008 Stanley Cup Finals loss he tied for the most points in the playoffs.
My favorite stat about Crosby is that even after he suffered the infamous concussion during the 2010-2011 season, he still led the team in points (66) for the rest of that campaign.
When the Penguins captain was out due to injury, star center Evgeni Malkin stepped up and became the team’s leader.
Malkin was drafted in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft (2nd overall); however, he didn’t play until the 2006-2007 season due to various contract issues.
But when Malkin showed up for his rookie season, he impacted immediately.
Posting 85 points in 78 games his rookie year to win the Calder Trophy (Rookie of the Year), Malkin has transformed into one of the NHL’s top-3 skaters.
In 495 regular-season games with the Penguins, Malkin has 625 points (240G, 383A) and in the postseason, he’s put up 97 points (36G, 61A) in 82 contests.
Not to mention he won the Conn Smythe Trophy (Playoffs MVP) when the Penguins won the Stanley Cup in 2009.
It is safe to say that Shero made his best decision by locking up his two star players, which is only going to contribute immensely towards winning another Stanley Cup.