Patrik Allvin, Jim Nill and Bill Zito named finalists for Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award

Allvin helped the Canucks win the Pacific Division title and claim the No.3 spot in the Western Conference with 109 points, a 26-point improvement from the 2022-23 campaign. One major factor was Allvin hiring Rick Tocchet, who won the 2024 Jack Adams Award as the NHL Coach of the Year. Allvin also added key pieces to the roster which included Nikita Zadorov, Ian Cole, Elias Lindholm, Teddy Blueger, Carson Soucy, Pius Suter and Sam Lafferty. Allvin is a first-time GM of the Year finalist and could be the second GM in Canucks history to win the award, following Mike Gillis in 2010-2011.

Nill oversaw the Stars and led them to the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference with 113 points, the highest total in Stars franchise history since 1998-99. The Stars have advanced to the Western Conference Final for the third time in the last five years. Eight Stars’ skaters and goaltender Jake Oettinger are among draft picks by Nill who are currently on the active roster which includes Miro Heiskanen, Jason Robertson, Wyatt Johnston, Logan Stankoven and more. Nill brought in forwards Matt Duchene, Sam Steel and Craig Smith during free agency last summer and made a big trade at the 2024 NHL trade deadline to acquire Chris Tanev. Nill is looking to win back-to-back GM of the Year Awards.

Under Zito, the Panthers recorded the second-highest regular-season point total in franchise history with 110 points and advanced to the Eastern Conference Final in back-to-back seasons. Zito has built the roster on the success of his 2021‑22 team, which captured the Presidents’ Trophy with a franchise-record 58 wins, and the 2022-23 squad, which advanced to the Stanley Cup Final. Zito added Oliver Ekman Larsson, Dmitry Kulikov, Vladimir Tarasenko, Kyle Okposo and more to the roster this season. Zito is a three-time finalist.