Two veterans and a relative newcomer were named finalists for the 2014-15 NHL General Manager of the Year Award as the NHL revealed Friday Bob Murray of the Anaheim Ducks, Glen Sather of the New York Rangers and Steve Yzerman of the Tampa Bay Lightning were nominated.
Murray’s major off-season move was acquiring centre Ryan Kesler from the Vancouver Canucks, a trade that gave the Ducks more depth. He also acquired defenceman Simon Despres from the Pittsburgh Penguins at the trade deadline. The Ducks won the Pacific Division this season and advanced to the Western Conference final for the firs time since winning the Cup in 2007.
Sather’s Rangers won the Presidents’ Trophy and were arguably the most balanced roster in the NHL. His most notable move was getting Keith Yandle from the Arizona Coyotes prior to the trade deadline. It was a bold move but Yandle has fit in nicely on the Rangers blue-line.
Meanwhile, Yzerman didn’t have to make any major moves in order for the Lightning to return to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2011. What’s most impressive about this Lightning is the fact Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman are the only two players that were on that 2011 team.
The General Manager of the Year Award will be handed out at the 2015 NHL Awards in Las Vegas on June 24.