The 2025-26 Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award will be decided among three first-time finalists: Bill Guerin of the Minnesota Wild, Chris MacFarland of the Colorado Avalanche, and Pat Verbeek of the Anaheim Ducks. The announcement was made on Tuesday, with the award determined by a vote of NHL general managers, league executives, and media members.
Guerin, 55, made a major move in December by acquiring defenseman Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks. He also signed forward Nico Sturm and traded for Vladimir Tarasenko in the offseason, then added forwards Bobby Brink and Nick Foligno, along with defenseman Jeff Petry, before the 2026 trade deadline.
MacFarland, 56, guided the Avalanche to the league’s best regular-season record at 55-16-11. His roster moves included signing defenseman Brent Burns in the offseason and acquiring forwards Nazem Kadri and Nicolas Roy, plus defensemen Brett Kulak and Nick Blankenburg, ahead of the deadline.
Verbeek, 61, assembled a Ducks team that reached its first playoff since 2018 and set a franchise record with 265 goals. He hired head coach Joel Quenneville before the season and brought in defenseman John Carlson, as well as forwards Mikael Granlund, Chris Kreider, and Cutter Gauthier.
The award has been presented annually since 2009-10. Jim Nill of the Dallas Stars had won it each of the previous three seasons.
