Last week, The Hockey Writers (THW) put together a list of the five most overrated general managers in the NHL, and the review was harsh, mostly in defense of Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman, who is considered one of the best GMs in the league but has yet to make the playoffs in his sixth season at the helm.
RELATED: The 5 Most Overrated General Managers in the NHL
With this in mind, let's look at the other side of the coin: Who is the most underrated GM in the NHL? Please note that underrated and overrated cannot be measured by any standard and rankings are subjective, so this list incorporates the opinions of multiple writers at THW. So, let's get started!
5. Craig Conroy
Craig Conroy is one of the rebuilding general managers on this list. Hired in the 2023 offseason, he took over a struggling Calgary Flames team and had to choose between dismantling the team and trading players that could bring in substantial returns or keeping the Flames competitive.
The breakup was difficult, and the Flames had to pay for some of the bad contracts made during the Brad Treliving era. That said, it's fair to say Conroy did a good job of replenishing the farm system with talent and adding young skaters to the NHL roster. For example, in the Tyler Toffoli trade, the Flames traded Yegor Sharangovich and draft picks for a rental player who would finish the season with another team (he was traded to the New Jersey Devils, then to the Winnipeg Jets at the trade deadline). The same could be said for the trades for Elias Lindholm, Noah Hanifin, Chris Tanev, and Jacob Markstrom. All of this repositioned the roster for future success.
The Flames were bottom of the Pacific Division last season, so Conroy's work went under the radar and will likely remain so until they move up in the standings, but they are a rising team in the Western Conference, and part of that is due to some of the big trades Conroy made in his short time as GM.
4. Chris Drury
Chris Drury has had a great tenure since taking over as general manager in the 2021 offseason. It would be easy to say his job wasn't difficult, as the New York Rangers were already well-positioned to transition from rebuilding to competitiveness when he arrived, but he has taken this team to a new level. Not only has Drury made the Rangers a perennial winner, he has maintained that position for the past three seasons.
He added Patrick Kane at the 2023 trade deadline and has made other splashy additions, but ironically, his best moves have been minor. At the 2022 trade deadline, he acquired Andrew Copp and Frank Vatrano in preparation for the playoffs. The two skaters combined for 11 goals and 16 assists in the playoffs, helping the Rangers reach the Eastern Conference Finals. Last offseason, he signed Erik Gustafsson and Jonathan Quick to add depth to his defense and goaltending corps, and at the trade deadline, he acquired Jack Roslovic. Gustafsson and Quick helped the Rangers finish with the best record in the NHL, and Roslovic was a key forward in the playoffs, scoring two goals and assists with eight.
Drury's lone time spending big in free agency also paid off, as he added a top-six center to his forward unit by signing Vincent Trocheck to a seven-year contract in the 2022 offseason. Trocheck emerged as one of the best skaters on the offensive line and was arguably the best signing of that offseason.
The Rangers' success is often attributed to their star players and coaching staff, especially Peter Laviolette who led the team to the league's best record last season, but Drury's achievements go unnoticed. He has been one of the best GMs in the NHL over the past few seasons, helping turn a good team into a great one that could compete for the Stanley Cup this season.
3. Kent Hughes
It's hard to be underrated in Montreal, with so much emphasis on every move, every detail of the franchise. Kent Hughes has done a great job with the rebuild and everyone knows it. His actions have put the Montreal Canadiens on track to be competitive sooner rather than later. But Hughes doesn't seem to get enough credit for how well things have gone during his tenure.
Look at the class he was drafted with and the moves he made to accelerate things. The 2022 NHL Entry Draft seemed devoid of superstars and many assumed the Canadiens would select Shane Wright with the top pick. Hughes selected Juraj Slavkovski, a dynamic young forward who was already poised to become a star. Combine that with the addition of Kirby Dach and the Canadiens got two forwards in that draft who have become the building blocks of NHL rosters.
Since that class, the Canadiens have made moves to shed bad contracts and revamp their defense and goaltending. Jordan Harris, Arbour Shekay and Kaiden Goulet are key pieces on defense and are all under the age of 25. Lane Hutson and David Leinbacher are two hot prospects poised to make an impact this season. Samuel Mountembo continues to be the starter at goaltending, but Hughes has added a promising goaltender to his prospect pool, drafting Jacob Fowler and developing Jakub Dobes over the past few seasons.
The Canadiens will be in contention for a championship in the near future, but a lot of that will be down to Hughes and his ability to draft and develop young players, and it's no exaggeration to say he's done the best job of any GM around the league who has had to deal with a rebuilding process in recent offseasons.
2. Jim Nill
The GM of the Year award is the NHL's chance to finally recognize Jim Nill as one of the best players in the league and after so many years of overlooking him. Nill has been one of the best players for the past 11 seasons and only recently got the recognition he deserves, becoming the recipient of the award in 2023 and 2024.
Under his direction, the Dallas Stars have become a superteam loaded with top-tier talent from top to bottom. The lack of weaknesses on the team and the mix of youth and experience are signs of a well-constructed team, but also of one that's been built on many levels, especially through the draft, the development of prospects, trades and free agent acquisitions. Nill has been a part of it all.
The first thing that stands out is the elite players they've drafted and developed in Jason Robertson, Wyatt Johnston, Miro Heiskanen, Thomas Hurley and Jake Oettinger. The little moves have also played a big role in this team remaining one of the best in the Western Conference. They signed Joe Pavelski, added Ryan Suter and kept Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin and Matt Duchene as veterans who can carry the weight. The Stars had eight players who scored 20 or more goals last season, showcasing their depth, top-tier talent and how Neal has built one of the best teams in hockey.
The only question is whether Nill is underrated at this point, given his league-wide respect and two-time GM of the year award. The irony is that, like Robertson, hockey hipsters and die-hard fans have long known he was a great player, but only recently has the general audience started to take notice.
1. Julien Brisebois
The 2010s Tampa Bay Lightning were the NHL's model franchise, but taking over is no easy task. Taking it to the next level is another. For years, the Lightning were credited with Steve Yzerman, and rightfully so, as many of the team's stars arrived under his watch. When Yzerman left and Julien Brisbois was hired in 2019, he took the team to a new level.
BriseBois was a key move in helping the Lightning win their first Stanley Cup title since 2004 and then back-to-back the following season in 2020 and 2021. Small additions like a strengthened forward line in Blake Coleman, Pat Maroon and Barclay Goodrow, and a defensive line reinforcement in David Savard at the 2021 deadline have helped this team win the Cup twice, transforming them from an exemplary franchise into a modern dynasty.
Since Brisbois took over, the Lightning have never missed the playoffs and have reached the Finals three straight years. With a great core already in place, their continued success is no fluke, but a reflection of a great front office. Even in recent seasons when the Lightning have faltered, Brisbois has kept the team continually performing above expectations. It's hard to understand why he doesn't get more credit for the Lightning's success.
Honorable Mention
Bill Zito would have been on this list as well, but it's hard to say I'm underestimating him at this point. He's turned the Florida Panthers into a powerhouse that could win a Stanley Cup title this year, especially with all the amazing signings he's made in recent years. Zito is arguably one of the best GMs in the NHL, and everyone knows it.
Joe Sakic would also be on this list given his role in helping build the Colorado Avalanche team that could win a Stanley Cup in 2022. The problem is, he's no longer the Avalanche's GM and has been promoted to president of hockey operations.
If you asked 100 hockey fans if Lou Lamoriello, Jim Rutherford and Don Sweeney were overrated or underrated, you'd probably get a 50/50 split – half of the people would say they should be fired and the other half would say they've been over-criticized and are the most underrated and under-appreciated GMs in the league.
Who do you think is the most underrated GM in the NHL? Let us know in the comments section below.
