'He was the best': Minnesota Wild senior advisor Ray Shero dies at 62

Originally posted on Bring Me The News | By Joe Nelson | Last updated Apr 9, 2025 1:57 PM ET

Minnesota Wild executive Ray Shero has died at 62 years old.

Shero, a St. Paul native admired for his outstanding work as general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins and New Jersey Devils, was working as a senior advisor for the Wild until his death.

Shero joined the Wild in 2021, hired to be the senior advisor to general manager Bill Guerin, who was acquired by the Penguins in a trade orchestrated by Shero that helped Pittsburgh reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2008 and 2009. Those were the last two years of Guerin's playing career, which led to him working as an executive in Pittsburgh's front office under Shero beginning in 2011.

"Our hearts go out to his family and friends and the countless people he impacted in the hockey community throughout his successful career," a statement from the Wild reads. "Ray was the best. He will be greatly missed by all of us."

A very emotional Bill Guerin on Ray Shero: "He changed my life."
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) April 9, 2025

Guerin, Shero and Pittsburgh lost to the Red Wings in the Stanley Cup Final in 2008 and defeated Detroit in a rematch in 2009. It was the first title for Pittsburgh in the Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin era.

Shero was fired by Pittsburgh after the 2014 season and hired a year later as GM of the New Jersey Devils. He kept that job until being fired in 2020, which set the stage for a return to St. Paul to work alongside Guerin.

It was just months ago that Shero glowed about the 2024-25 Wild.

"We've got skill, but there's an identity to the team, how we play. It's a heavy team. It's got size. There's a lot of good things going on," Shero said, per NHL.com. "It's a fun group to watch. If people haven’t seen a game in St. Paul, it's an amazing place. It's packed every night, and they're a great fan base. They've had something to cheer about, and hopefully that can continue."

Shero's cause of death has not been revealed.

This article first appeared on Bring Me The News and was syndicated with permission.

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