The Jets’ Kevin Cheveldayoff, the Stars’ Jim Nill, and the Panthers’ Bill Zito are the three finalists for this year’s Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award, the league announced today.
Unlike most other major league awards, GMOTY honors take playoff performance into account. Voting for the award is also done by a jury of their peers – all 32 NHL GMs, plus a panel of NHL executives, print and broadcast media, comprise the voting, which takes place after the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs concludes.
Cheveldayoff is the relative newbie of the trio in terms of being included among the finalists. It’s his second time making the cut – he previously finished second in GMOTY voting after Winnipeg had its then-best season in franchise history in the 2017-18 campaign. That club had 114 points, a mark this year’s Jets beat by two en route to winning their first Presidents’ Trophy in franchise history. This year’s notable moves included promoting Coach of the Year finalist Scott Arniel to the head role last offseason following Rick Bowness’ retirement as well as acquiring winger Brandon Tanev and defenseman Luke Schenn at the deadline.
His nomination stems more from identifying his core and sticking with it through ups and downs. Most of Winnipeg’s driving forces – namely Connor Hellebuyck, Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, and Josh Morrissey – have been there for years and were all drafted under Cheveldayoff.
Nill, meanwhile, is going for a three-peat. He’s already one of just two GMs to win the award twice, alongside former Islanders boss Lou Lamoriello. While he’s wholly responsible for the Dallas core that’s now advanced to three straight Western Conference Finals, his in-season moves may have him well-positioned to take home the honors yet again.
Playoff performance will be a factor here – after Nill traded for and signed Mikko Rantanen to a massive eight-year, $96MM extension at the deadline, he’s returned the favor as the Conn Smythe favorite so far with a playoff-leading 9-11–20 scoring line through 14 games. His draft record among mid-to-late first-round picks in recent years, highlighted by Wyatt Johnston, Jake Oettinger, and Jason Robertson, is arguably the biggest reason they’ve been able to enter their lengthiest contention window since winning the Stanley Cup in 1999.
As for Zito, he’d have won one by now if not for Nill’s reign. He’s a finalist for the third year in a row and the fourth time overall during his stint at the helm of the Panthers. His offseason work, with depth pickups like Nate Schmidt performing well in lieu of big-name players who left in free agency following last year’s Stanley Cup win, already had them well set for a repeat. Acquiring stars Brad Marchand and Seth Jones in separate pre-deadline deals, both of whom have been among the Cats’ best postseason players, is the main reason he finds himself on this year’s list, though.
Honestly, Mike Grier deserves a nomination. But I guess they’re looking for “GM of the best teams” not “best GM in general”.
I mean, if youre the best GM in general then your team would be one of the best teams.
That is as lame as your Sabers
Agreed. The Walman trade alone should get him a statue.
You must be kidding! Lol.
I mean, not that you’re wrong, but at least get the spelling right if you’re trying to make a quip
really, though… if you’re the best GM in hockey, your name is Jimothy Nillson.
Why wasn’t Grandpa Lou nominated? He’s done a bang up job on Long Island.
Avalanche GM should be in this list – after the midseason retool he did…
I’d have to look, but I’d be surprised if there’s been a finalist for the award since its inception whose team didn’t win at least one playoff series. Voting takes place after the second round.
Not true, Voting takes place at the conclusion of the regular season.
His team had fewer regular season points than it did during the previous season, got bounced from the playoffs one round earlier than it did during the previous season, and he traded the guy who is currently leading the league in playoff points and goals. For this, you believe that he is a GM of the year candidate?
@WilfPaiement9 – Not for GM of the Year. It’s after the second round. Might want to click on the league release linked in the article.
I will talk slower, Chris Patrick GM, Washington Capitals, Chris MacFarland GM, Colorado Avalanche.
You are correct, My mistake, But the candidates are judged on there regular seasons.
Agreed. Although I’m sure an upset in first round of playoffs would garner some 3rd and/or 2nd place votes which could change the final rankings.
Example 2019 1. Don Sweeney had 8 1st place votes, 2. Doug Armstrong x8 1sts, and 3. Don Waddell had x9 1st place votes. The x18 2nd and 3rd place votes pushed Sweeney ahead of Waddell who only had x8 2nd/3rds. Did CBJ upset of TB in 1st give jarmo votes that belonged to Waddell? Is this 2019 GM of the year award the reason I still have to deal with Sweeney being GM?
Wilf is not big on details. Amusingly, after you corrected him, he agreed with you, then disagreed with you on the same topic in the same post. He may disappear for a while and change his name but he continues to produce the same high-end, scattered, uninformed takes.
Very true.
Shoutout Chris Patrick
Chris Patrick did more with less, He has been my choice since the new year.
Jim Nill
Nill was fantastic once again.
If Bill Zito doesn’t win this after the Jones and Marchand trades… building possibly the best roster of all time … while losing guys like Brandon Montour and Oliver Eckman-Larsson … finding roster gold in people like AJ Greer, Jasper Bovist, and Nate Schmidt… then the award is a sham.
“Best roster of all time”??????? Lol
100%. Zito is mid-Dynasty & they still haven’t given it to him. What’s he gotta do?
could you name me another roster from history who had a HOF player, at the top of his game…. on the third line?
It is an amazing roster, I think Dallas, And Florida will go seven games.
01-2002 Red Wings had Larianov, Yzerman, Fedorov, Datsyuk and they’re not the greatest either. Also factor in teams when a 3rd line centre was used for 3 shifts to the C-form rookie called up to get his taste of pro hockey. Those 2 lines in the 50s had hall of famers in their entire top 6.
I think that this Florida is a very deep team but giving them greatest roster of all time is stretch. Hockey existed before Panthers ’23 cup run and will exist well after FLA drops off and it goes back to 12000 visiting team fans in attendance
Possibly the best roster of all time? Where do you come up with this stuff? Guessing that your history with hockey began post-covid.
Wow, the definition of dynasty has been highly diluted.
Barkov, Ekblad, Marchand, Tkachuk, Reinhart, Bennet, and Bob are all either HOF locks, or well on their way to the HOF… Seth Jones and others could make a case one day as well. That’s pretty damn impressive.
if they make it to their third straight cup finals.. winning the presidents trophy the year before.. assuming they win their second straight cup… that’s not a 21st century (salary cap era) dynasty?
@wolf payment…. penny for your thoughts after game 3
I’ll say again. I think they are a very great, deep team. I think greatest roster of all time is the stretchy part.
WHY IS WILF BACK WHAT DID WE DO TO DESERVE THIS?
Be fair, he did his time in detention without much argument. Now enjoy the ride. He usually comes back on a heater, attempting to make up for lost time. Should be fun – hope he makes it to the last game of the season.
What….No Don Sweeney?
OK, a little sarcasm to lighten the day……
Marchand > Tarasenko
Jones > Montour
Nosek > Lorentz
Schmidt = OEL
The math checks out, Zito for the win.
agree with all but that last one…. Schmidt did not replace OEL