The Penguins today named Ray Shero general manager.

Shero, 43, has been the assistant general manager in Nashville for the past eight years. Before that, he was assistant GM in Ottawa after breaking into the business as a player agent.

He is the son of former NHL coach Fred Shero.

Shero's duties in Nashville included overseeing the team's minor-league operation in Milwaukee, negotiating contracts, working with scouts and preparing salary-arbitration cases.

Shero has a five-year contract with the Penguins.

"I think I'm ready for it -- I've had 14 years as an assistant (GM)," Shero said at a press conference today. "I'm thrilled to get this thing going."

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.