“Hire good people, let them do their jobs, and be ready for them to leave because if you bring in enough good people, they’re going to get other opportunities.” —Advice? Well, these words were quite a philosophy, spoken by the NHL’s most respected GM, 62, who passed away recently. The Pittsburgh Penguins saw more than a general manager in Ray Shero. The backbone behind their 2009 Stanley Cup win and Sidney Crosby’s first as captain, Shero was a spark who never just built a team but helped the franchises develop in a way that left a mark that echoed far beyond that one season. And for the players? Jason Botterill, a business-savvy former hockey player, called him the best mentor.
And with heavy hearts, the Penguins took it to X—offering condolences to the mastermind behind assembling the roster that helped Pittsburgh win its third Stanley Cup in 2009. “We extend our deepest sympathies to his family, his sons, Chris and Kyle, and all those fortunate enough to call him a friend. Ray was admired and loved in the hockey world, and especially here in Pittsburgh,” the post read alongside an old snap of the legend holding the 2009 Stanley Cup and smiling, like he owned it, and of course he did! With redefining and building a completely new era for the Penguins hockey, Shero restored a winning culture that shaped the legacy for Pittsburgh.
The Penguins organization joins the family, friends and colleagues of former Penguins General Manager Ray Shero as we mourn his passing. pic.twitter.com/2TaU2AtBBj
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) April 9, 2025
And for the captain, Crosby? “I’m not thinking about Sidney Crosby the hockey player. I’m doing what’s best for Sidney Crosby the person,” Shero once said. No bond proved more than the one he shared with Crosby. And it was never about keeping a distance to maintain the eminence of his designation but to guide players and be the best mentor. It was during a devastating concussion saga in the early 2010s when Crosby went through a tough phase, and Shero never flinched! Now, years later, since he has left for his heavenly abode, it’s Crosby speaking for the one who supported and believed in him once. “Ray Shero was a big part of my early days in Pittsburgh. He gave me a lot of opportunity as a young captain and supported me throughout his time,” Crosby confessed.
Well, it wasn’t only Crosby but many players who sought some elderly advice from Shero. Having learned it from his mentor, David Poile, pretty well, Shero knows how to build people. Case in point? Talk about Tom Fitzgerald, who served as his assistant GM once but was eyed for the Minnesota Wild’s top job post. Great position with success knocking at the doors, but here’s the twist. When Fitzgerald couldn’t make it after two final rounds, Shero asked him to reject the offer the second time it came. Why? Definitely not because he wanted Fitzgerald to fail, but because he didn’t want him to fail! “Ray didn’t want me being used; he protected me by not letting me interview; he told me I could take the job if they offered it, but not for an interview,” Fitzgerald cleared the point.
And just like that, with multiple stories and memories of Shero from all around the hockey world, it’s his impact off the ice that sounds loud now. After all, he touched many hearts alongside shaping careers and building legacies on trust! But what makes someone so unforgettable in a profession built on fleeting glory? Love? Kindness? Guidance? Maybe a bit of everything that brings the hockey community together to mourn the GM’s passing alongside all the notable entities.
Fans remember Penguins’ GM alongside Sidney Crosby
Love and respect poured in across the hockey world when fans posted their heartfelt comments on many posts. And it wasn’t just a mourning for their general manager but an honoring of the man behind the Pittsburgh hockey team. It was very clear and reflective when one fan wrote, “built my time after the pen,” perhaps pointing at the impact Shero had over the Penguins’ fandom, while another one painfully expressed, “Too young to go.” And then someone wrote with some general indications, “Life is short, man! Rest in peace, Ray, and thanks for the memories!”
But the emotions weren’t confined to Pittsburgh only. Messages chimed in from fans writing and pouring love all the way from Canada. It clearly described the depth of loss when they wrote, “1st, longtime & well-respected announcer Mike Lange passes and now their former Stanley Cup-winning GM Ray Shero. Heartfelt condolences from Vancouver to his family, friends, former colleagues, the Penguins and all Pittsburgh Penguins fans.” Well, they didn’t just mourn an individual but highlighted the pillars of a golden era.
Then comes another one, capturing the bittersweet while captioning, “This saddens me, as another door closes on the golden era of the Pens. Thank you, Ray for starting that era. RIP. Condolences to his whole family.” Well, in the end, with this flood of love, it only proved one thing: that Ray Shero may be gone, but his story, including the ones he helped write, like for Crosby, will be remembered forever in the game of hockey. After all, the legend never just managed a team but built a dynasty!
The post “RIP”: Sidney Crosby Mourns as Hockey World Joins In, Penguins’ Former GM Passes Away at 62 appeared first on EssentiallySports.
