Yankees' Brian Cashman calls ex-Devils GM Lou Lamoriello New York's best of last 50 years

by Felix Pantaleon

Yankees general manager and Devils fan Brian Cashman called friend and former Devils GM Lou Lamoriello the best in the New York area over the last 50 years.

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Yankees general manager Brian Cashman still has plenty of respect for former Devils architect Lou Lamoriello.

Cashman, who is also a Devils fan, is still friends with the new president of hockey operations for the New York Islanders, and according to a report from The Athletic, Cashman believes Lamoriello’s work with the Devils made him the best GM in the metropolitan area in more than a generation.

“You could argue Lou is the best GM of a New York-area team in the last 50 years,” Cashman said. “He’s a man with a plan, he’s got a philosophy, he’s committed and the proof is in the pudding when it comes to his work. The job he did in Jersey is second to none.”

Lamoriello took over as president of the Devils in 1987 before making himself the team’s general manager, and during his 28 seasons in New Jersey, Lamoriello won three Stanley Cups while building the Devils into a yearly contender.

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He left the Devils in July of 2015, when he became general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs. After transitioning into a special advisor role with the Leafs in April, Lamoriello then accepted a job with the Islanders, where he has full control over all hockey decisions.

Despite the fact the former Devils GM turns 76 years old in September, Cashman also told The Athletic he has no doubt Lamoriello is ready for the challenge of turning around the Islanders, who have won just one postseason series since 1994.

“He’s going to eliminate anything that’s between where they are now and the ultimate goal of being a Stanley Cup contender,” Cashman told The Athletic. “Anything that could erode that, take away from reaching that goal, he’ll get rid of it.”