When you build a roster that wins the Stanley Cup, it’s safe to say you’re a pretty good GM.
Joe Sakic did just that this season and was rewarded for it on Thursday night, taking home the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award during the first round of the draft in Montreal.
It’s hard to think of a more worthy recipient than Sakic.
The longtime Avalanche superstar has translated the on-ice success from his playing career into the front office since taking over as GM in 2013, meticulously building a roster that blew the doors off the league in 2021-22 and steamrolled the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions to take their crown and possibly begin the NHL’s next dynasty.
Sakic has made a number of crucial draft picks that helped usher in that success in Colorado over his tenure, such as Cale Makar, Bowen Byram, Alex Newhook, and Mikko Rantanen. But Sakic hasn’t just cleaned up on the draft floor during his time as Avs GM. No, his prowess on the trade market is perhaps his greatest asset, with Sakic swinging for the fences by acquiring the likes of Darcy Kuemper, Artturi Lehkonen, Josh Manson, and Andrew Cogliano just this past season, who each played a key role in the Avalanche’s championship.
That’s as flawless of a track record as you can possibly have in the modern NHL. And Sakic now has the hardware to show for it.
Sakic finished ahead of runners-up Julien Brisebois of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Chris Drury of the New York Rangers in award voting.
