Lou Lamoriello is settled in.
On the precipice of starting his second full season with the club, the Toronto Maple Leafs general manager says he's fully transitioned into his new role after 28 years as the boss of the New Jersey Devils.
"Once you make that decision, you go forward and you're fully invested. If you're not, you shouldn't be here," Lamoriello told Tom Gulitti of NHL.com.
"That's not saying I don't have a tremendous fondness for the years that I was in New Jersey and the respect that I have for the players and the people that I was associated with and the fans. You'll never lose that. That's totally special. That never goes away.
"But I am fully invested, fully committed and I wear blue."
Since Lamoriello was hired by Leafs' President Brendan Shanahan, the team has undergone a massive overhaul, and is setting foot on the next chapter of their rebuild with a revamped, exciting look for October.
"We did what we had to do last year," Lamoriello said. "We did end up 30th, by the way, just to remind you of that, so I don't want to get off track from that. But what we were able to do after the season, whether it be the (2016 NHL Draft) or the people that we acquired or the growth of the people that were there and the young people and the core that will still be there, it was a stepping stone."
The reward for a 30th place finish was first-overall pick Auston Matthews, who will lead the charge of the Leafs' youth movement, along with William Nylander, Mitch Marner, and others. Lamoriello also swung a deal to land legitimate No.1 goaltender Frederik Andersen from the Anaheim Ducks, while also adding some grit by bringing in bruising winger Matt Martin on July 1.
While expectations remain sky-high for many Toronto fans, Lamoriello, as he's always done, is approaching the matter with patience.
"All we have to do is keep doing the things that we're doing and not rushing things. Do them for the building of a foundation and then the end result will take care of itself whatever that might be," he said.
