Team: 2019-20 Custom Team

Initial Creation Date: May 22, 2020

Published: May 22, 2020

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

If you have any different opinions or anyone you think I forgot let me know!
Honorable mentions are Jarmo, Dorian, Fletcher and Chevy

Sakic- he is the best GM in the NHL right now. He’s smart, has just the right amount of patience, drafts well and is a great contract negotiator.
Yzerman- even though his first year in Detroit was terrible, it wasn’t really his fault. He stole Fabbri and Seider looks like a great pick. This, with all of his success in Tampa, makes him the NHL’s 2nd best GM.
Sweeney- Sweeney might be the best contract negotiatior in the league. Almost every contract he has signed has benefited the Bruins (besides Backes) and has drafted pretty well (besides the 2015 draft lol.) He’s built the Bruins into a force to be reckoned with.
Armstrong- The O’Reilly trade was an absolute steal. He manages the cap quite well, which makes me think he can keep Petro. He recently won a cup, and that was thanks to the formerly mentioned O’Reilly trade and the underrated signing of David Perron.
Jim Rutherford- He’s the GM every person on capfriendly thinks they would be. Whenever there is a problem, he makes a trade right away to try to fix it. I respect his aggression, and it’s worked out for him. He has his faults, but so does every GM. Also, he hands out pretty decent contracts (besides JJ.)
Jeff Gorton- the stinky Rangers rebuild is going so well because of this guy. He’s recently drafted really well IMO, and he knows how to gain assets for a rebuild like no other. Also, bringing Panarin was great for the Rangers. The trade for Zibby was an absolute steal. Also, how about his interm GM run with the Bruins, where he drafted Kessel, Marchand, trades for Rask and signed Zdeno Chára in FA.
David Poile- he’s the longest tenured NHL GM for a reason. The only GM of the Predators has made trades well, hired some very solid coaches in his career and drafts dmen in later rounds like no other.
Don Waddell- Waddell reminds me of Jim Rutherford, except when there is a problem, no matter what the problem is, he acquires a dman. He has helped build one of the best blue lines in the league and has also helped build a very underrated prospect pool. The Nino Trade was a steal, and the Reimer trade is looking good too. Not to mention hiring Brind’Amour as coach was a great move.
Lou Lamiorello- he’s lost his touch, but what he did with the Devils was pretty amazing. His tenure as Leafs GM was great too, drafting Matthews, Marner, Nylander and Rielly. His isles tenure has been highlighted by the great signing of Lehner, hiring Trotz and trading for Pageau (which I think was a good move.) His ability to get top tier coaches working for him in not so great situations is very underrated too.
Brian MacLellan- he has built the caps very well. He made them cup contenders for years to come. The only problem with him is the contracts he has signed. I don’t like the Oshie and Backstrom contracts which lowers him a bit.