NHL Awards - GM of the Year 2019: Predictions and Odds

Where: Mandalay Bay – Las Vegas, NV.

When: Wednesday, June 19, 8PM EST

How (TV): NBC Sportsnet, Sportsnet

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Don Sweeney – Boston Bruins (49-24-9)

If it ain’t broke, don’t try to fix it. Sometimes a general manager has to know when to sit still. Sweeney brought the Bruins into the 2019 season mostly intact from 2018. He made a few under-the-radar off-season moves – the most notable of which may have been the signing of goaltender Jaroslav Halak to backup starter Tuukka Rask.

At trade deadline, Sweeney was able to add to the team’s depth in time for the playoffs, trading with New Jersey for Marcus Johansson and with the Minnesota Wild for Charlie Coyle. Neither trade cost Sweeney and the Bruins much and both have already proven their worth in the playoff race. The Boston Bruins play game one of the Stanley Cup finals this Monday at 8PM EST.

Doug Armstrong – St. Louis Blues (45-28-9)

The St. Louis Blues struggled at the start of the 2019 season but came around in January and went on a tear to finish the season. Much of that turnaround is because of Doug Armstrong. Armstrong made a few major moves during the off-season, when he acquired Ryan O’Reilly in a trade and signed Tyler Bozak, David Perron, and Patrick Maroon from free agency.

The poor start to the season came as a shock but Armstrong held strong. Like Sweeney, sometimes the best move is no move at all. His new players eventually gelled in front of a rookie goalie and the pieces came together with patience. Armstrong did nothing at the trade deadline, much to the surprise of many, and the Blues kept working and honing their on-ice strategies. They will now play the Boston Bruins on Monday – their first Stanley Cup final since 1970.

Don Waddell – Carolina Hurricanes (46-29-7)

The Carolina Hurricanes off-season was as busy if not busier than the Blues. Armstrong traded away (in what was considered risky at the time) highly-touted young talents in Noah Hanifin and Elias Lindholm in order to acquire defensemen Dougie Hamilton and Michael Ferland. He also found a goalie tandem in Petr Mrazek and Curtis McElhinney – the latter of which was off of waivers.

Waddell also made the decision to assign former player Rod Brind’amour as head coach of the team. In his first year as a head coach, Brind’Amour led the team to and Eastern conference final appearance.

The odds will be updated as they are made available.