Dallas

Why Stars GM Jim Nill Should Win NHL GM of the Year

The Dallas Stars had a great year so it’s no surprise Jim Nill is a finalist for the NHL general manager of the year.

Nill joins Washington Capitals Senior Vice President and General Manager Brian MacLellan and Pittsburgh Penguins Executive Vice President and General Manager Jim Rutherford as the three finalists for the annual award presented to recognize the work of the league's general managers.

The winner is selected by NHL general managers and a panel of NHL executives, and print and broadcast media members at the conclusion of the regular season.

I think Nill should win because the Penguins and Capitals having good years was no surprise. Nobody thought the Stars would play so well this season.

Hockey News picked the Stars to finish fourth in the Central Division. Only one of 11 ESPN hockey experts picked the Stars to win the division and nobody at NHL.com picked Dallas to win the division either.

The Stars finished with the best record in the Western Conference and won the Central Division title. Many picked the Chicago Blackhawks to repeat as division champions, but the Stars were able to best them by three wins and six points in the standings.

Dallas finished with a record of 50-23-9 with 109 points. This season marked the first time that Dallas had won a division title since the team finished first in the Pacific Division with 112 points in 2005-06.

The Stars beat Minnesota in round one of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs and lost in seven games in the Western Conference semis to St. Louis.

Nill just finished his third season as the Stars general manager.

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