Bruins zoom in on Shero
Nashville assistant appears to be leader for GM position
The Bruins front office remains characteristically mum regarding the club's search for a new general manager, but a number of signs and sources the last two days have pointed to Ray Shero, the longtime assistant GM in Nashville, as the odds-on favorite to be named to the position -- possibly as early as next week.
Shero, who lived in the Boston area for a few years after graduating from St. Lawrence in 1984, was accompanied by his wife, Karen, on a flight that landed late yesterday morning at Logan Airport.
According to a source with close ties to Shero, the would-be GM was here to meet with club president Harry Sinden in what could be the last step in anointing Shero the replacement for Mike O'Connell, once Sinden's handpicked successor, who was dismissed as GM March 25.
''Then it's got to be Shero," speculated another source, who was among the scores to interview for the job opening. ''I mean, you don't fly here with your wife, and meet with Harry, if they're not going to make you the GM."
Shero, according to the source who knew he traveled here yesterday, has been the only candidate to interview a ''number of times" both in Boston and Buffalo, the latter the hometown and corporate office of club owner Jeremy Jacobs.
Charlie Jacobs, the owner's son who has gained increasing influence and sway in recent years in all matters pertaining to the Bruins and their Causeway Street arena, has said repeatedly the last two months that it would be of paramount importance that the new GM be able to work closely and effectively with the Jacobs family. It appears the 43-year-old Shero has been identified as the right family fit.
The junior Jacobs said weeks ago he would like to have the new GM in place on or about June 1. A source with direct ties to one of the Bruins' broadcast partners said Wednesday that the club's front office indicated a decision likely would be made public toward the middle or end of next week.
Two other NHL GMs, both of whom requested anonymity, raised the prospect of Shero taking over the Boston job, each of them noting his hard work, diligence, and front-office experience, which began some 14 years ago when he left the player-rep business to become assistant general manager in Ottawa. He has spent the last eight seasons assisting Nashville GM David Poile, a longtime friend of Sinden's.
According to two sources, one of them very close with Sinden, and another who interviewed for the job, Poile contacted Sinden in March, within days of O'Connell's dismissal, to tout Shero for the job. The latter source indicated that both Poile and Predators owner Craig Leipold in recent weeks placed many calls around the league, hoping to further Shero's advancement up hockey's corporate ladder.
''I hadn't heard that Ray's getting the job there," said one GM. ''If so, people should feel good about it. David [Poile] and Ray have done a tremendous job in Nashville."
''Quality guy," said the other GM. ''Outstanding choice, for anyone."
Given such endorsements, there could be extra incentive on Boston's part to get the deal finalized quickly, because at least three other clubs -- including the Penguins, Avalanche, and Islanders -- are also looking for new GMs. Dean Lombardi, once high on Boston's list of prospective candidates, was hired last month to take over the GM role in Los Angeles.
Shero, who grew up in St. Paul, is the son of the late Freddy ''The Fog" Shero, the bench boss in Philadelphia during the Flyers' glory years, leading the Broad Street Bullies to back-to-back Stanley Cup wins in 1974 and '75. The Bruins lost to Shero's Flyers in the '74 Cup finals, rubbed out, 1-0, in Game 6 at Philly. Prior to that final game, Shero scribbled on the dressing room blackboard, ''Win together today, and we walk together forever!"
The Bruins, who haven't won the Cup since 1972, find themselves in a footrace with the Celtics for dead last in the city's sports consciousness. If he is handed the job, Shero will take charge of a club that has failed to qualify for the playoffs three of the last six seasons, and has won but one playoff series since the 1994-95 season.
Determining what to do with the head coaching position will have to be the new GM's first priority. Mike Sullivan has spent two seasons behind the bench and remains under contract for 2006-07. However, the younger Jacobs has made it clear it will be left to the new GM to decide whether Sullivan stays.
Shero, if chosen, also will have to build out a front office, one that includes acting GM Jeff Gorton, the assistant GM under O'Connell. The junior Jacobs, who two months ago said he strongly supported Gorton's GM candidacy, said he also remained hopeful that Gorton, if not chosen for the job, would remain aboard in a key front-office position.
Sinden will turn 74 years old during training camp and is widely believed to be retiring after the upcoming season. 