Jim Nill thought he was having a standard dinner with the Dallas Stars scouts and administration group lately and ended up being stunned with the Jim Gregory Normal Supervisor of the Yr Award.
Stars assistant GM Mark Janko and Nill’s spouse, Bekki, had been in on the key.
“At the moment, choosing the children up on the airport, I turned off my location so he wouldn’t know,” Bekki stated. “I’ve needed to do a variety of behind-the-scenes sneaking round.”
Earlier than the meal, Nill obtained up and made a speech whereas the trophy was on its technique to be introduced to him.
“As we’re getting near this (NHL) Draft, I simply wished to thanks guys once more,” Nill stated as a part of the speech. “You’re the explanation why we’re who we’re, the work you do, and it’s only a pleasure to have you ever a part of our group.”
Proper after that, the trophy was introduced to him by his three youngsters, who flew in for the event.
“It caught me off guard,” Nill stated. “I used to be like, ‘What are [the children] doing right here?’ They did a very good job of hiding it.”
Nill, 67, formally was introduced because the winner on Friday through the first spherical of the 2025 Higher Deck NHL Draft at L.A. Dwell’s Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. He turned the primary three-time recipient of the award and received it for a 3rd straight season. Nill completed third within the voting in 2015-16 and 2019-20.
“You possibly can inform by Jim’s face how stunned he was, emotional,” Janko stated. “He’s excited he received it for 3 years in a row, [but] he’s extra excited that he will get to see his spouse and three youngsters in that atmosphere and share with them. I feel that was actually cool.”
The Stars (50-26-6) completed second within the Central Division this season, Nill’s twelfth with Dallas. They superior to a 3rd straight Western Convention Closing regardless of being with out ahead Tyler Seguin (hip) and defenseman Miro Heiskanen (knee) for a big a part of the season due to harm.
“This might need my title on it, however it’s obtained each one in all your names on it,” Nill advised his workers of the award. “To have the ability to share this with you guys, it’s particular. I’m humbled by it. There’s so many nice folks in our enterprise which are deserving of this additionally and to have the workers right here, to have my household right here, that’s tremendous particular.”
Previous to the 2025 NHL Commerce Deadline on March 7, the Stars acquired forwards Mikko Rantanen and Mikael Granlund, and defenseman Cody Ceci. Rantanen signed an eight-year, $96 million contract ($12 million common annual worth) with the Stars that begins subsequent season and led the group with 22 factors (9 objectives, 13 assists) in 18 Stanley Cup Playoff video games. Granlund had 10 factors (5 objectives, 5 assists) within the playoffs, and Ceci ranked fourth on the Stars in common ice time per sport through the postseason (21:31), with each additionally taking part in all 18 video games.
“The look on his face was shocked,” Bekki stated of Jim profitable the award, “however then to see your children, that’s when the tears confirmed up.”
Kevin Cheveldayoff of the Winnipeg Jets and Invoice Zito of the Florida Panthers had been the opposite finalists for the award.
