Lou Lamoriello joined the Toronto Maple Leafs organization on Thursday. (USATSI)
Lou Lamoriello joined the Toronto Maple Leafs organization on Thursday. (USATSI)

Lou Lamoriello shocked the hockey world on Thursday when he resigned from his post as president of the New Jersey Devils and was immediately introduced as the newest general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Lamoriello spent 28 years with the Devils organization and was the general manager until this offseason when he stepped away from that role. He was replaced by former Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Ray Shero.

On Friday, Lamoriello took out a full page ad in the Bergen Record and thanked Devils fans for their loyalty over the years.

Here is the complete text of Lamoriello's letter to Devils fans:

FROM THE DESK OF

Lou Lamoriello

Dear New Jersey Devils' Fans:

Since I first joined the New Jersey Devils in 1987 your dedication to the organization motivated me to work my hardest – every day, every week, every year. The nearly three decades I've been with the Devils are times I will cherish and never forget.

Together we saw the New Jersey Devils make history. All of the players who were so devoted to winning and New Jersey. All of the employees of the team who shared the same philosophy. The staffs at what was then Continental Arena and the Prudential Center helping to make sure the New Jersey Devils were always a team you would be proud to support.

1995, 2000, 2003 were seasons where we reached the ultimate goal. We all shared a common objective: Excellence. Hearing you cheering for the team on those historic nights remains with me to this day and always will.

I am most appreciative of Dr. John McMullen for bringing me to New Jersey in the first place. His desire to win the Stanley Cup for New Jersey was a goal we all shared and were fortunate to achieve – three times.

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. Though now a rival, the New Jersey Devils have a bright future. Of that you can be assured. I thank you again for your commitment to what we worked to achieve every year for the last 28 seasons.

With deepest admiration

Lou Lamoriello

During Lamoriello's time with the Devils the team appeared in five Stanley Cup Finals -- most recently in 2012 -- and won three of them as the team went from a laughing stock prior to his arrival to one of the best and most successful organizations in the NHL during the 1990s and 2000s. 

Here is what Lamoriello's full ad looks like, again via the Bergen Record.