The Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year award has been awarded to Lou Lamoriello of the New York Islanders. The three nominees were Lamoriello, Jim Nill and Julien Brisebois. 2019-20 marks the eleventh year the award has been handed out. Former league executive Jim Gregory is the award’s namesake. Last year’s winner was Don Sweeney of the Boston Bruins. The league announced the winner Saturday evening during the Conference Finals.
Lou Lamoriello is your Jim Gregory Award winner as GM of the Year
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) September 12, 2020
Lou Lamoriello Wins General Manager of the Year
This is the sixth consecutive year that the winner’s team has made the Conference Finals. The last time a winner’s team didn’t reach the league’s semifinals round was Bob Murray of the Anaheim Ducks in 2013-14. Lamoriello has done a great job since becoming the Islanders general manager to the 2018-19 season. His history of winning three-Stanley Cup Championships with the New Jersey Devils made him the right hire for the Islanders. During his tenure, Lamoriello has reshaped the Islanders in his vision and how he wants his team to compete on the ice. The big upgrade was adding Barry Trotz as head coach. The big move made by Lamoriello came at the trade deadline acquiring Jean-Gabriel Pageau.from the Ottawa Senators to add depth to that centre position. Right away, Lamoriello signed Pageau to a five-year contract extension.
In addition to the trade for Pageau, Lamoriello signed free agent goalie Semyon Varlamov and forward Derick Brassard. However, Lamoriello recognized that he needed to lock up the core group for the future. With the way, Anders Lee, Anthony Beauvillier, Jordan Eberle and Brock Nelson are playing this post-season, their contracts this past off-season were justified. Recognizing he needed for depth on defence, Lamoriello also acquired Andy Greene, someone who he has familiarity with at the deadline. These moves have gotten the Islanders in a position be in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1984.
There are plenty of reasons why Nill and Brisebois deserve to be nominated, especially with the moves they pulled to make their teams better. However, in the end, it goes to the man with the most experience.
What This Means for the Future
This a young award that doesn’t have a lot of history or strict criteria behind it. It will undoubtedly be an award subject to more scrutiny as time goes on. The 2019-20 nominees are certainly worthy, even if the nomination process needs greater attention. It recognizes the massive effort that goes into drafting, developing, trading and signing players each and every season. Lamoriello is a great representative who has helped build his team into a Stanley Cup contender.
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