| Born: | Oct 21, 1942 | Hometown: | Johnston, Rhode Island |
| National Team: | United States | Current Status: | New York Islanders (GM) |
| Known For: | 3x Stanley Cup Champion |
Lou Lamoriello (born October 21, 1942) is a name synonymous with the term “hockey operations.” His track record boasts some of the most memorable eras in hockey, as Lamoriello was instrumental in the success of every team he stood behind. Early in his life, he was an exceptional athlete in both baseball and hockey, and he chose to pursue his path with a pair of skates strapped to his feet, opting to become a head coach at Providence College in 1968 and then becoming the athletic director in 1982. He became the first commissioner of Hockey East, a position he held until his hiring as the New Jersey Devils president in 1987.
As the Devils president and eventual general manager, Lamoriello’s hard-nosed stance and staunch approach to professional conduct led the organization down a path of success in the 1990s and early 2000s. Under his leadership, the Devils became a premiere shutdown team that suffocated teams with their neutral zone trap and defensive dominance, garnished with the excellence of one Martin Brodeur. With the Devils, Lamoriello lifted the Stanley Cup on three separate occasions, earning his reputation as one of the best general managers of his era.
In 2015, Lamoriello chose to resign from his post with the Devils and become the general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, taking on a behemoth of a task that was elevating one of the most recognizable sports franchises in the world. His tenure got off to quite the start, drafting players like Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews to build a core that could carry a team for years, while changing the structure of the organization to better compete in today’s era. While the team never made it out of the first round of the playoffs, he still managed to give the Maple Leafs hope, then and for the future. In 2018, he joined the Islanders as the general manager, a position he currently holds, and has won back-to-back General Manager of the Year awards.
Deeper Dive
- Was Lou Lamoriello as Good as Maple Leafs Fans Remember?
- Toronto Maple Leafs Made a Mistake Dumping Lou Lamoriello
- The End Of The Lou Lamoriello Era
Staff History
- Providence College, NCAA (Head Coach) 1968-1983
- Providence College, NCAA (Director of Player Personnel) 1983-1986
- New Jersey Devils (President) 1986-2015
- New Jersey Devils (CEO) 1987-2013
- New Jersey Devils (General Manager) 1987-2015
- New Jersey Devils (Head Coach, Interim) 2005-2007
- Albany Devils, AHL (General Manager) 2010-2015
- Toronto Maple Leafs (General Manager) 2015-2018
- New York Islanders (President of Hockey Operations) 2018-current
- New York Islanders (General Manager) 2018-current
Achievements
- NHL Contribution to U.S. Hockey (Lester Patrick Trophy) (1992)
- 3x NHL Stanley Cup Champion (1995, 2000, 2003)
- Hockey Hall of Fame | Builder (2010)
- United States Hockey Hall of Fame | Builder (2013)
- 2x NHL General Manager of the Year (NYI) (2020, 2021)