The Stars may not have captured the Stanley Cup this year, but the league acknowledged the team is building toward success thanks to the work of General Manager Jim Nill.
Nill was named the 2023-24 recipient of the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award Monday night, marking the second consecutive year he took home the league’s top honor for his role. Nill was a record fourth-time finalist for the award and joins Lou Lamoriello as the only GMs to capture it in consecutive seasons.
“Winning this award for two consecutive seasons is a testament to the work that Jim and his entire staff have done over the past decade,” Dallas Stars Owner and Governor Tom Gaglardi said in a press release. “Year after year, he continues to put our franchise in a position to contend for championships through his expertise with drafting, developing and talent acquisition. We will continue together towards our goal of winning another Stanley Cup for Dallas.”
Nill was named on 34 of 42 ballots as a top-three selection, including 17 first-place votes, for 118 points. He had a significant edge over fellow finalists Patrik Allvin of the Vancouver Canucks (66) and Bill Zito of the Florida Panthers (64). The award was voted on by other NHL general managers, a panel of league executives and media.
Nill recently completed his 11th season as Stars GM, joining the franchise after winning the Stanley Cup four times in Detroit. His work this season gained national attention with successes in the draft, free agency and ahead of the trade deadline all culminating in another deep playoff run.
Players like Wyatt Johnston, Logan Stankoven, Jason Robertson, Miro Heiskanen and Jake Oettinger show the success Nill has had in drafts over his years in Dallas.
![Jim Nill, Dallas Stars general manager (left), and Peter DeBoer, Dallas Stars head coach,...](https://dmn-dallas-news-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Z4I6XAYGLFFPXFDEQNSHVAYXZA.jpg?auth=32993be52ee91fd667cabf0f34c323760c0a5ff890d10c8d946f5ec419170d1b&width=830&quality=80)
After losing to a deep Vegas team last playoffs, the Stars GM focused on his team’s forward depth in the offseason, adding Matt Duchene, Craig Smith and Sam Steel to the roster in free agency to ensure Dallas had four lines able to score on a nightly basis.
When the team’s defensive game was lacking ahead of the trade deadline, Nill made a move for Chris Tanev without sacrificing any first-round draft picks, current players on the roster or top prospects. He also got Calgary and New Jersey to retain 75% of Tanev’s salary.
His work translated to success on the ice, as the Stars led the Western Conference with 113 points, their highest total since the Stanley Cup-winning 1999 team (114). Dallas also advanced to the conference finals for the third time in five seasons.
During Nill’s tenure, the Stars have amassed a record of 455-301-107 and have made the Stanley Cup Playoffs in seven seasons.
The most important time for the Stars’ GM is just weeks away, as the NHL draft is set for June 28-29 and free agency begins just a few days later on July 1.
He’ll be tasked with the challenge of retaining key unrestricted free agents like Tanev and Duchene while attempting to land another future star with Dallas’ 29th overall pick in the first round of the draft.
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