Top 10 NHL General Managers Shining in the 2025 Offseason

10. Don Waddell, Columbus Blue Jackets

Columbus Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell focused on continuity and targeted extensions rather than bold splashes. He locked in defenseman Dante Fabbro with a four-year, $16.5 million deal to maintain stability. In free agency, he added depth—bringing in center Isac Lundestrom, re-signing Owen Sillinger, and adding defenseman Christian Jaros. Finally, Waddell re-signed key NHL veteran Ivan Provorov to shore up the core structure.

2. Jim Nill, Dallas Stars

Jim Nill re-signed a few key role players this summer, like captain Jamie Benn to a one-year deal and Radek Faksa to a three-year deal. Nill also traded away defenseman Matt Dumba to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok and a 2028 second-round pick. 

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3. Chris Drury, New York Rangers

Chris Drury made a bold impact by signing top free agent Vladislav Gavrikov to a seven-year, $49 million deal. Drury also sacrificed K’Andre Miller in the process. Still, he added emerging defense prospect Scott Morrow and depth forward Taylor Raddysh, reinforcing a defense that certainly needed some more urgency. 

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4. Kelly McCrimmon, Vegas Golden Knights

For the umpteenth time, Vegas Golden Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon executed a blockbuster deal—acquiring Mitch Marner via sign-and-trade—one of the NHL’s premier playmakers. He also maintained depth by re-signing key middle-six forwards and adjusting the roster to absorb cap strain after moving Nicolas Hague. Vegas continues to find high-impact scorers while balancing finances.

5. Bill Zito, Florida Panthers

Bill Zito won the offseason mostly by doing … nothing. He re‑signed key free agents Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett, and Aaron Ekblad, all at favorable terms, locking in the championship core. In a thin market, blocking rival teams from improving was a smart management strategy. The Florida Panthers’ GM masterclass deserves some strong praise.

6. Mathieu Darche, New York Islanders

In his first full offseason, New York Islanders GM Mathieu Darche transformed the rebuild. He drafted elite prospect Matthew Schaefer at No. 1, flipped star defenseman Noah Dobson for two first-round selections and prospect Emil Heineman, then restocked the pipeline with additional picks.

7. Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings

Steve Yzerman addressed a glaring need by trading for veteran goaltender John Gibson, giving the Detroit Red Wings a reliable starter after years of uncertainty in net. He also signed veteran superstar Patrick Kane to a one-year deal and extended Mason Appleton for bottom-six depth. While quieter than others, these targeted moves fill key holes and position Detroit to further leverage its $12M cap space.

8. Mike Grier, San Jose Sharks

With a massive projected cap cushion, Mike Grier bolstered the San Jose Sharks’ veteran core. Grier signed Dmitry Orlov, John Klingberg, Jeff Skinner, and Philipp Kurashev to mentor young stars. He also added Alex Nedeljkovic for goaltending depth. These moves provide leadership and flexibility for the next phase of the rebuild.

9. Chris MacFarland, Colorado Avalanche

Colorado Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland made targeted moves to add depth and experience without overspending. He signed veteran Brent Burns and brought back key role players like Sam Malinski and Parker Kelly, while locking in Brock Nelson with a three-year deal to solidify the second line. MacFarland also traded Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood to create cap flexibility and refresh the bottom six.

10. Don Waddell, Columbus Blue Jackets

Columbus Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell focused on continuity and targeted extensions rather than bold splashes. He locked in defenseman Dante Fabbro with a four-year, $16.5 million deal to maintain stability. In free agency, he added depth—bringing in center Isac Lundestrom, re-signing Owen Sillinger, and adding defenseman Christian Jaros. Finally, Waddell re-signed key NHL veteran Ivan Provorov to shore up the core structure.