On Monday June 10th, the NHL announced that Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill won the Jim Gregory award as GM of the year for 2024. Having been voted the recipient of the award two years in a row now. With the honor, today we’re going to look at some of the highest highlights from Nill building the Stars for over a decade.
Tyler Seguin signing
2013 was a pitiful year in Stars’ franchise history. Tom Gaglardi bought the team, and pulled the franchise out of bankruptcy. Nill was also introduced as GM. His first major signing was bringing Tyler Seguin, and Rich Peverly over via a trade with the Boston Bruins.
This trade went on to a steal for the Stars. While Loui Eriksson’s downfall since his last years in Dallas continued in Boson, Seguin is still in the NHL. Wearing the A as alternate captain in Dallas. Nill used great foresight in 2013.
The 2017 draft
The best draft in team history. Defenseman Miro Heiskanen, goalie Jake Oettinger and a forward in Jason Robertson you have three guys at the three main positions of your team. They’re also all (hopefully) long term guys who look to lead the charge to another chance at playing for the Stanley Cup down the road.
Under Nill, the Stars have been lights out drafting since 2017. While drafting Roope Hintz in 2015 was a great pick, the first few years of drafting in Dallas were overall subpar. Once Nill, and his scouts approached 2017 Stars fans have become spoiled every summer.
Goalies!
Ben Bishop, Anton Khudobin, and Jake Oettinger. Since 2017-2018, the Stars have enjoyed a wealth of consistently elite net minding since the days of Marty Turco. Nill has brought Dallas back to what they were known for in the 90s, and the 2000s; a team with strong net minding. Playing behind one of the best defenses in the league.
Whether or not Nill has made a signing like Bishop and Dobby, or a homegrown goalie like Otter the Stars do not lack in who starts between the pipes.
Captain America
We cannot forget that the GM signed American icon Joe Pavelski in the summer of 2019. In Pav’s five seasons with the Stars, they made the playoffs four out of five years. Including two west finals appearances, and were Stanley Cup runners up in 2020. While Pavelski’s playing days look to be over, Nill and the front office would surely love to keep Joe as a coach, trainer, or another off ice position in the organization.
Forever young
We hear about it every year. Whether it’s a recent draft pick or somebody from the AHL, Dallas seems to always have a young gun burst onto the scene. Next up from team Nill’s scouting team; Mavrik Bourque.
Robertson, Wyatt Johnston and Logan Stankoven are their own players. But both have been effective for the Stars’ offense. Given year after year of Dallas’ young talent coming up from Austin, who’s to doubt Bourque won’t have an impact in 2025?
From trading for Seguin to the upcoming rookie campaign of Bourque, Nill has made hockey fun in Dallas.
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