For those who wondered if it would be business as usual after Lou Lamoriello stepped down and Ray Shero was named his successor as Devils' general manager, it is becoming obvious that changes are being made.

Shero's biggest tests will be at next week's NHL entry draft and then when the free agency window opens on July 1. Nevertheless, here are 5 areas in which we can compare Shero to Lamoriello:

1. Open practices

Until ownership demanded a few exclusive open practices for select season ticket holders this season, Lamoriello did not have them once the Prudential Center opened. That may change with Shero, with the public getting in to watch some practices.

"Every team has closed practices, but I think it's important for a team to connect with the fan base. Especially with the kids," Shero told NJ Advance Media. "There's a time and place for (open practices). Maybe we'll see some of that at development camp. Put it this way: I think the fan interaction with the players and vice versa are very important. Whether it's in development camp or next year, there's a time to give back."

2. The GM on all road trips

It was news when Lamoriello didn't travel with the Devils. That will change. Shero won't make all the trips.

"No, I don't think so," Shero revealed. "Every GM is different. I'm not sure how Lou did it. If I'm seeing the farm team or scouting other games, I wouldn't expect to be on every road trip. I'll be doing other things. From a coaching standpoint, I'll let them on their own a little bit. Somebody else on the staff might be on a road trip and not me. That's kind of what I've done in the past, whether there is a tournament in Europe or an AHL or NHL game to go see, I've never been on every road trip."

3. Negotiating contract extensions during the season

Lamoriello wouldn't do it, with the exception of Martin Brodeur. Shero will try to sign some players to extensions during the season, perhaps avoiding disasters like waiting too long and losing Zach Parise as a free agent.

"I can't speak for New Jersey in the past, but everywhere around the league there are certainly some extenuating circumstances sometimes where a free agent goes to the end. My experience is there are times during the year to be proactive and certainly times to wait," Shero explained. "A player might want to wait.

"Do I have a set policy not to negotiate during the year? No, I don't, because I think it's important for planning for the future. Sometimes there is not a deal to be made. Sometimes a guy walks. And sometimes you re-sign him."

4. High uniform numbers

Players were assigned numbers by Lamoriello and they weren't high numbers. There were exceptions like Jaromir Jagr (68), Alexander Mogilny (89) and Doug Gilmour (93), but not many.

"I think that's one of those things we address later on," Shero said. "Do I have a set thing on it? Hopefully I'm working on other things besides that right now. I've seen it both ways, in New Jersey and on teams that have high numbers.

"I was part of a situation in Ottawa where Radek Bonk had 76 and Alexandre Daigle had 91. Pierre Gauthier walked in one day and said, 'Change the numbers.' It was four years into their careers. Bonk changed to 14, Daigle to 9 and someone else, too. Of course, Jagr was an exception here with 68. There are exceptions. We'll have some high numbers in training camp. How's that? Put it this way: We'll just wait and see."

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5. A third jersey with a different logo

Lamoriello was dead set against it, relenting for the throwback green and red colored sweaters as a third jersey. It seems almost certain that the Devils will soon have a very different alternate jersey.

"I kind of like some around the league and some I don't," Shero said. "I think that goes above me to the marketing department. Nashville had the mustard one and I liked it. Some people didn't. These are marketing things. We'll try to get up to speed with that. Some of those jerseys around the league are fantastic. Some in the past were not so good."

Rich Chere may be reached at rchere@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Ledger_NJDevils. Find NJ.com on Facebook.