5 most surprising Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award voting results feat. Oilers’ Ken Holland at No. 8

Jim Nill of the Dallas Stars won this year’s Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award. The long-time Stars executive locked up 17 first-place votes to secure the award following a successful regular season that saw the Stars finish second overall.

While Nill is a worthy recipient of the General Manager of the Year Award, the final voting tally showed some interesting results. Let’s take a look at the five most surprising ones.

5 most surprising General Manager of the Year results

#1: Chris Drury didn’t finish in the top three

Chris Drury was the architect behind the New York Rangers’ run to the Presidents’ Trophy this season. The Rangers made it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals largely due to the roster built in the offseason and the additions at the trade deadline.

However, Drury only got six first-place votes, leaving him with 61 total points, good for fourth place. Considering the overall successful season the New York Rangers had, it’s surprising to see that Drury did not get more consideration than he did.

#2: Daniel Briere got one first-place vote

The Philadelphia Flyers had a much better season than initially anticipated. The Flyers were not supposed to contend for a playoff spot. Yet, they were in the hunt until the last week of the regular season.

While Daniel Briere deserves credit for the club’s success, much of the team’s overall performance was due to coach John Tortorella’s guidance. Still, one voter felt that Briere did an outstanding job, giving him a first-place vote. He did not receive any additional second or third-place votes.

#3: Patrick Allvin was a distant second

The Vancouver Canucks had a better-than-expected season. While most analysts believed the Canucks should have made the playoffs, few believed the club could win their division and make a strong postseason run.

That success garnered enough votes for Allvin to finish as the runner-up in the General Manager of the Year race. Yet, he finished with 66 total votes, to Nill’s 118. Nill receives 17 first-place votes to Allvin’s six. That gap is surprising, considering the fine job Allvin did in resurrecting the Canucks following a disastrous 2022-2023 campaign.

#4: Don Waddell did not receive any first-place votes

Former Carolina Hurricanes GM Don Waddell finished with seven total votes. He did not receive any first-place votes, which is surprising given his track record. He helped build one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. Also, the Hurricanes reached the second round, losing to the Presidents’ Trophy winners, the Rangers.

Overall, Waddell should have received more consideration based on his team’s track record and sustained success throughout the regular season. The Canes didn’t seem to struggle at any point during the season. Perhaps Waddell can win the General Manager of the Year award next year while leading the Columbus Blue Jackets.

#5: Ken Holland finished eighth

Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland has built a team that is now competing for the Stanley Cup. Yet, Holland received one first-place vote and one second-place vote. The result is startling, considering the difficult task Holland undertook in building a team around superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

Ultimately, the Oilers winning the Cup will take the sting out of finishing out of the top five in General Manager of the Year voting.