First Call: Ray Shero fired. Rob Scuderi promoted. Potential Penguins trade target stays hot.
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It’s a hockey-heavy “First Call” for Monday. Ray Shero is out in New Jersey. Rob Scuderi has been promoted in Nashville. A potential Penguins trade target is on fire. And the sport recognizes a music legend.
Bedeviled
Former Penguins general manager Ray Shero has been fired as GM of the New Jersey Devils.
He was dismissed Sunday. Word came out before his team beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-1.
Shero took over in Jersey after the 2014-15 season ended. He compiled a 157-167-48 record. New Jersey made the playoffs just once during his tenure, losing in five games to Tampa during the first round of the 2018 playoffs.
The team’s managing partner Josh Harris made this statement after the news was confirmed.
Managing Partner, Josh Harris talks to the media after parting ways with GM Ray Shero.
“Ray was a really talented NHL executive, and we wish him incredibly well in the future. He did some great things for our organization, but the reality is, we’re not where we want to be.” pic.twitter.com/KlKpDtlbzn
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) January 13, 2020
Shero’s assistant general manager, Tom Fitzgerald, is taking over on an interim basis. He held the same assistant’s job under Shero in Pittsburgh, too.
Former Devils goaltending legend Martin Brodeur will serve as an adviser for hockey operations.
‘The Piece’ is on the bench
Former Penguins defenseman Rob Scuderi is now on the bench with the Nashville Predators.
“The Piece,” as he was dubbed during the 2009 Stanley Cup run, has been promoted to an assistant coach on John Hynes’ staff. Hynes had been the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton coach from 2009-15 when Shero hired him to be his coach with the Devils.
Rob Scuderi makes his debut as the @PredsNHL newest assistant coach. #Preds pic.twitter.com/q6mhjTzatB
— FOX Sports Tennessee (@PredsOnFSTN) January 12, 2020
Scuderi won a second Cup in Los Angeles in 2013. He was previously Nashville’s “defense development” coach.
Hynes took over for Peter Laviolette last week.
Looks familiar
On Saturday, former Steelers coach Bill Cowher found out that he was getting into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on CBS.
This is so cool
Former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher was shocked when he found out he'll be named to the 2020 @ProFootballHOF. (via @CBSSports) pic.twitter.com/cdlcUUUZAE
— ESPN (@espn) January 12, 2020
On Sunday, former Dallas Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson got the same treatment on Fox.
Jimmy Johnson finding out he’s being inducted into the Pro Football HOF and Troy Aikman teary up for his coach. #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/RlyLldV9rG
— Cowboys Videos (@Cowboys_Videos) January 13, 2020
Steelers Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw was as pumped up as anyone, wasn’t he?
Quick! Someone get Alan Faneca on network TV fast. That seems to be the key to getting into Canton. And the Steelers guard is overdue for his Hall call.
Alan Faneca deserves to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame! #Steelers pic.twitter.com/UGJtjIta2U
— BlitzburghVideos (@BlitzVideos) January 10, 2020
Hopefully he and Troy Polamalu find out they are both going in as members of the 2020 class of modern era inductees the day before the Super Bowl.
Hot Hoffman
Ever since Mike Hoffman’s name came up as a potential trade target for the Penguins, he can’t stop scoring.
The Florida Panthers winger scored twice during an 8-4 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs Sunday.
Once at even strength.
For those who need a reminder, Mike Hoffman (@MHoffy68) is a pure sniper. pic.twitter.com/zDoCTGMtYD
— NHL (@NHL) January 13, 2020
Once on the power play.
The top cat in Florida, everyone!
Franchise leader in points, Jonathan Huberdeau (@JonnyHuby11). pic.twitter.com/2uyWwDsLiB
— NHL (@NHL) January 13, 2020
As you can hear in that play-by-play clip, Jonathan Huberdeau got the assist. That was his 420th point with the Panthers, breaking the career scoring mark set by Olli Jokinen.
Upper St. Clair’s Vincent Trocheck also scored for Florida.
Vincent Trocheck gets the @thebbtcenter rocking!
Watch the @FlaPanthers LIVE on FOX Sports Florida & FOX Sports Go : https://t.co/44S2h4AnSX
1 #TORvsFLA 6 #FlaPanthers #OneTerritory #NHL pic.twitter.com/l41Ods91At
— FOX Sports Florida & Sun (@FOXSportsFL) January 13, 2020
But back to Hoffman. He now has five goals in his last four games for a total of 18 on the season.
Pucks for Peart
The music world lost an icon Friday.
Neil Peart died at the age of 67. He had been suffering from glioblastoma. The drummer for Rush was widely recognized as one of the best at his craft in the history of rock music.
And Peart had a sports connection. Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Peart recorded a well-known version of TSN’s Hockey Night in Canada theme in 2010.
Much of that drum set was auctioned to help the Pricess Margaret Cancer Foundation in 2015. TSN put the video on its website in memory of Peart Friday.