Thursday’s moves, Lamoriello’s departure as Devils president and hiring as Leafs GM, was a win-win situation. The Devils today are a new team, one that for the first time in nearly 28 years doesn’t have Lamoriello pulling its strings. The Leafs? They have taken another step in overhauling a moribund organization with an experienced executive to tutor young, spark cohorts.

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By hiring Lamoriello, Leafs president Brendan Shanahan also proved himself as a man of great loyalty, vision and purpose. Loyal to Lamoriello, the man who drafted him in 1987. Vision, in seeing the correct way he wants to rebuild the Leafs. And purpose, in his ability to put aside his ego and admit he needed help.

To thank Devils fans, Lamoriello has a full-page ad in The Star-Record of Newark, N.J. Part of the text: “Through all the years, you the fans are an unforgettable part of my New Jersey Devils experience and I am grateful for your passion and unwavering support. I will miss you and New Jersey.”

For the Devils, it means there won’t be second-guesser in place to watch new GM Ray Shero’s every move. Shero is now free to pursue the path he took in building the Penguins in to a Stanley Cup team. If Shero has the touch with draft picks (and the luck in being bad enough to select players of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin’s ilk), the Devils will be fine.

There is new pressure on the Devils, which is good.

There always will be pressure on the Leafs, who went from notorious underachievers to abject failures in recent years. Shanahan’s work this summer might not be complete, but there are indications of what his plans will produce.

Soon to be 73, Lamoriello can offer veteran guidance to a team president in power little more than a year, and to assistant GM Kyle Dubas and personnel chief Dale Hunter. All three men have much to learn. An imperfect parallel might be Scotty Bowman’s arrival with the Blackhawks.

Steve Simmons of Canada’s Postmedia says the Leafs give Lamoriello something he lacked in New Jersey — ability to spend to the cap limit to pad his roster. It also makes it less likely quality talent won’t be allowed to walk away because of money. Simmons cited the free-agent departure of Zach Parise and move to Russia by Ilya Kovalev as the Devils’ downfall.

It was more than that, even if Martin Brodeur’s aging and departure are added as factors.

In Thursday’s media conference to introduce Lamoriello in Toronto, Shanahan thanks Devils owners for their willingness to let him speak with his old boss. One wonders if the Devils weren’t happy to let Shanahan woo Lou.

Speaking to New Jersey media members on Thursday, Devils co-owner Josh Harris said the Leafs’ offer was likely too good to pass.

“I just think as a personal matter, when you’re used to having absolute control of an organization, Lou was obviously president and Ray was general manager, it was a different situation for him,” Harris said. “I’d be speculating beyond that. But if we take a step back and think about this from a human perspective, it’s relatively easy to see why he might consider a great team like Toronto as an opportunity.”

Other reports noted the potential conflict between two strong-willed men — Lamoriello and new Leafs coach Mike Babcock. Lou was his charming self when the topic was broached at Thursday’s media session.

Remember, it’s never easy to hire a general manager to work with a coach already in place. That’s not to say there will be trouble, only that a relationship question must be asked.

“Mike hasn’t coached a game,” Lamoriello said. “I haven’t been here a day. And you’re trying to make trouble. Next question.”

There is no question that Shanahan has become a focal point for the Leafs this summer, and by extension a man to watch across the NHL. He isn’t the only Hall of Fame player running a franchise — Steve Yzerman, Shanny’s old captain with the Red Wings, has the Lightning empowered.

Now Shanahan has the attention of Leafs fans, the NHL and players across hockey. And that is a critical step in restoring pride in an historic franchise.