Bill Zito, the General Manager of the Florida Panthers, has once again been passed over for the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award. This marks the third consecutive year that Jim Nill of the Dallas Stars has received the honor, a historic achievement making him the first GM to win the award three times in a row.
The Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award is presented annually to the NHL's top general manager, with the winner selected by a panel of 42 members. This panel includes all 32 NHL general managers, five NHL executives, and five media members. The award was first given out in 2010 and was renamed in 2019 to honor the late Jim Gregory, a former general manager and NHL executive.
Bill Zito has been a finalist for the award in four of his five seasons as the Panthers' GM. In fact, Zito finished second in the voting this year, receiving 12 first-place votes. Despite his consistent presence as a top contender, he has yet to take home the trophy.
Zito's work with the Panthers has been nothing short of remarkable. He constructed a team that has won back-to-back Stanley Cups. In the 2025 season, Zito bolstered the team with strategic acquisitions, including defenseman Seth Jones and forward Brad Marchand. Furthermore, he has successfully signed core players to team-friendly, long-term contracts, fostering a culture of commitment within the team.
Jim Nill, in his 12th season as the Stars' GM, has also demonstrated exceptional leadership. This season, he made significant moves by acquiring forwards Mikko Rantanen and Mikael Granlund, as well as defenseman Cody Ceci. These additions helped the Stars reach the Western Conference Final for the third straight year. Nill received 17 first-place votes and was named on 37 of the 42 ballots as a top-three selection, accumulating 139 voting points.
While the GM of the Year Award is a significant honor, Zito has stated that winning the Stanley Cup is the ultimate goal. With two Stanley Cup rings already, and the team he has built seemingly poised for continued success, Zito's focus remains on the ultimate prize.
Some observers have expressed surprise at the voting results, suggesting that Zito's accomplishments with the Panthers arguably deserved recognition. Despite the disappointment of missing out on the award, Zito's impact on the Florida Panthers is undeniable.
