New Jersey Devils vs. Montreal Canadians 1/2/15

Adam Oates (left) reportedly is a candidate to replace Lou Lamoriello (center) as Devils GM. (Saed Hindash | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

There's been a lot of speculation that the Devils new ownership group is secretly plotting big changes to its management team, and according Canadian radio co-host Nick Kypreos, big changes are coming.

A left wing on the Rangers' 1993-94 Stanley Cup-winning team, Kypreos is hearing that Hall of Fame executive Lou Lamoriello's nearly three-decade run as Devils general manager could be ending soon with co-coach Adam Oates taking over.

This scenario was talked about Tuesday morning by Kypreos on his radio show Hockey Central, which is aired on Toronto's The Fan 590 and simulcast on NHL Network.

"There's going to be some decisions with Lou in the near future with that ownership group and then what to do with Lou and how much power he has," Kypreos said. "But I did hear the possibilities of ... they like Adam Oates."

Oates has been one of the Devils' three head coaches along with Scott Stevens and Lamoriello in a bizarre system that has been in place since Dec. 27.

Lamoriello fired head coach Pete DeBoer on Dec. 26.

A Hall of Fame center who is sixth all-time in assists and 17th in points, Oates previously had been the Washington Capitals head coach in 2012-13 and was an assistant for three seasons, two of them for the Devils.

When Josh Harris and David Blitzer purchased the Devils in August 2013 for $320 million, they immediately announced that Lamoriello, the team's president and GM since 1987, would be retained in the same role.

"I hope he stays here another 26 years,'' Blitzer said at the time.

The owners could be feeling differently now with the Devils having missed the playoffs two seasons in a row and well on their way to making it three straight. The also may not be thrilled about their team having three head coaches.

Switching to Oates as GM would make the Devils' upper management younger. Oates is 52, while Lamoriello is 72.

"They like Adam Oates because ... he's that next generation Steve Yzerman, Brendan Shanahan, (of former NHL stars becoming execs)," Kypreos said. "They view Oates like that. So there is the possibility that Adam would grow some responsibility on the managerial side."

Yzerman has been GM for the Tampa Bay Lightning since May 2010, while Shanahan has been the Toronto Maple Leafs president since April 2014. Like Oates, both also are Hall of Fame forwards who played in the NHL from the 1980s to 2000s.

This topic was brought up Tuesday on Hockey Central by co-host Doug MacLean, a former long-time Columbus Blue Jackets general manager.

"I've been hearing rumbles that Adam Oates may very well become the GM in New Jersey," MacLean said. "Ever hear that?

"I did," Kypreos responded.

Added Maclean, "Maybe I heard it from you ... because you're one of my big sources."

Randy Miller may be reached at rmiller@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com Philadelphia Sports on Facebook.