Connect with us

2025 Stanley Cup Champions

Bill Zito Misses Out on NHL GM of the Year Award. Again

Published

on

Nhl trade deadline
Florida Panthers GM Bill Zito at the 2023 NHL Draft in Nashville. // Photo courtesy @FlaPanthers

Bill Zito built the two-time Stanley Cup champions, but has yet to win the NHL GM of the Year Award.

He will continue waiting on that one.

On Friday night during the NHL Draft, the league announced that Jim Nill of the Dallas Stars won the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award for the third straight time.

Zito has been a finalist in four of his five years running the Panthers โ€” and has lost out to Nill in each of the past three years.

It should be noted that this award is voted on by the NHLโ€™s 32 general managers as well as a panel of NHL executives, print and broadcast media after the second round of the playoffs.

Nillโ€™s Stars have been knocked out in the conference finals in each of the past three years.

This yearโ€™s voting had Nill named on 37 of 42 ballots as a top-three selection โ€” including 17 first-place votes. Nill ended with 139 points.

Zito finished second in voting with 102 points โ€” including 12 first-place votes.

Kevin Cheveldayoff of the Winnipeg Jets placed third with 52 points andsix first-place votes.

2025 NHL DRAFT

  • Where: Peacock Theatre, Los Angeles
  • When: Friday (first round) 7 p.m.; Saturday (second-seventh rounds), noon
  • TV: Friday ESPN/ESPN+; Saturday NHLNet/ESPN+
  • Florida Panthers Selections โ€” Round 1: None (to Calgary); Round 2: None (to Toronto); Round 3: None (to Ottawa); Round 4: No. 112 (from Calgary), No. 128; Round 5: No. 129 (from San Jose); Round 6: No. 192; Round 7: No. 224.

2025 STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS

FLORIDA PANTHERS

UP NEXT
  • 2025 NHL Draft: Friday-Saturday, Los Angeles (Panthers have five picks in Rounds 4-7)
  • Start of NHL Free Agency: Tuesday, noon
  • Panthers Development Camp, Fort Lauderdale IcePlex: Early July
  • Panthers Rookie Camp, Fort Lauderdale IcePlex: Early September
  • Prospect Showcase hosted by Tampa Bay Lightning: Early September
  • Training Camp: Mid-September
  • Exhibition Games: Starts Sept. 21 @ Nashville (doubleheader)
  • Opening Night: Oct 7-9 (opponent, time, date TBA)

Get FHN+ today!

Get FHN in your inbox!

Be the first to know. Enter your email to get the latest from Florida Hockey Now delivered straight to your inbox.