Patrik Allvin of the Vancouver Canucks, Jim Nill of the Dallas Stars and Bill Zito of the Florida Panthers are the finalists for this season鈥檚 Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award.
The NHL announced the finalists Thursday. League general managers, executives, print and broadcast media voted for the award after the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. A winner will be revealed June 10.
Allvin, a first-time finalist, helped the Canucks finish first in the Pacific Division and third in the Western Conference with a 50-23-9 record before Vancouver lost to the Edmonton Oilers in a seven-game series in the second round.
鈥淚t鈥檚 hard when you鈥檙e sitting here and you lost (in the playoffs),鈥� Allvin told reporters Thursday. 鈥淚ndividual awards, I respect it and I鈥檓 happy that my peers voted. I鈥檇 rather have a team award.鈥�
Hiring head coach Rick Tocchet late last season, signing depth players such as Carson Soucy in the off-season and bolstering the team鈥檚 lineup with in-season acquisitions Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadarov contributed to the team鈥檚 success.
鈥淚 believe and we believe that individual success comes from team success,鈥� Allvin said. 鈥淚n this particular case, it鈥檚 definitely it鈥檚 not about me. It鈥檚 about what the coaches have done to the players. At the end of the day, I think the players contribute to this award. My staff, they鈥檝e done a tremendous job.鈥�
Nill, last year鈥檚 winner, oversaw a Stars team that led the Western Conference with 113 points and is currently in the Western Conference final against the Oilers. Eight Nill draft picks are on Dallas鈥� playoff roster, including the team鈥檚 top three scorers and starting goalie. He also signed centre Matt Duchene in the off-season and added defenceman Chris Tanev at the trade deadline.
Zito built a Panthers team that advanced to the Eastern Conference final for a second-consecutive year after a 110-point season. Zito revamped Florida鈥檚 blue line this off-season before adding forwards Vladimir Tarasenko and Kyle Okposo at the deadline. It鈥檚 his third nomination.
READ ALSO:
The Canadian Press
