Jim Gregory award 2026: the three GMs who rewrote their franchises

For three straight years, Jim Nill's name was etched into the Jim Gregory Award trophy. 2023, 2024, 2025. Same handwriting.

May 2026 looks different.

Bill Guerin, Chris MacFarland. And Pat Verbeek are the first-time finalists, and none of them got here the same way.

That's the angle.

Jim Gregory award 2026: Guerin's all-in trade for Quinn Hughes

On Dec. 12, 2025, Guerin shipped Marco Rossi, Liam Ohgren, Zeev Buium. And a 2026 first-round pick to Vancouver for Quinn Hughes.

Four assets. One defenseman.

Hughes finished with 53 points in 48 games.

He broke Minnesota's single-season record for assists and points by a defenseman.

The Wild hadn't won a playoff round since 2015.

They won one this year.

One trade changed the Western Conference's balance of power.

Vancouver reloaded. Minnesota went from pretender to threat.

Kaprizov scored 45 goals and carried the offense down the stretch.

He signed an eight-year extension kicking in next season. The Wild aren't fading.

Jim Gregory award 2026: MacFarland built Colorado's 121-point machine without the big moves

Colorado went 55-16-11. One hundred twenty-one points. A franchise record. The Avalanche sat atop the NHL standings from Nov. 1 straight through to the end of the season. They won the Jennings Trophy for fewest goals allowed. They're still playing, one series win from the West Final.

MacFarland's moves didn't grab headlines. He signed Brent Burns in the offseason.

He locked in Brock Nelson after a 33-goal year.

At the deadline, he added Nazem Kadri, Nicolas Roy, Brett Kulak, and Nick Blankenburg.

None of those moves lit up social media. Together, they plugged every hole on a roster that ran the league for six months.

Joe Sakic won this award in 2021-22.

His Avalanche are playing like a team that wants to hand the trophy back to him.

Jim Gregory award 2026: Verbeek turned Anaheim's rebuild into a 41-goal season and a playoff upset

The Ducks hadn't made the playoffs in eight years.

They finished 30th in goals scored the season before Verbeek took over.

He hired Joel Quenneville on May 8, 2025. His team scored 265 goals, a franchise record.

Then Anaheim knocked off the two-time West champion Edmonton Oilers in six games in the first round.

Not a fluke.

A franchise turning a corner.

Verbeek acquired Cutter Gauthier on Jan. 8, 2024. Gauthier led the team with 41 goals. Then Verbeek stacked veterans around a young core of Sennecke, Carlsson, and McTavish. Granlund. Kreider. Carlson. The kids are good. The veterans fit.

Nobody wants to play this team now.

Bob Murray won this award in 2013-14.

Twelve years ago. Verbeek could end that drought with one trophy.

Which model actually wins?

Guerin went all in on one trade. MacFarland built a juggernaut through depth. Verbeek bet on the kids and the coaches. Three philosophies. One award.

It doesn't matter who takes it home tonight.

All three changed their franchises permanently.

Minnesota has a window now. Colorado has the best regular-season team in the league. Anaheim has its swagger back.

Watch for who takes the podium. But watch what they say about the future of their teams. That's where this story goes next.

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Sources: - Guerin, MacFarland, Verbeek finalists for Jim Gregory GM of the Year - Quinn Hughes season by the numbers - Avalanche 10 takeaways — franchise record season - Ducks first-round storylines - 2025 NHL GM of the Year award voting results