Chicago Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman Should Be GM of the Year

The NHL’s Best Are Making their Campaigns for the NHL Awards for This Season. One General Manager Who Has Risen Above the Rest is Chicago Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman, Who is Proving He Should be GM of the Year.

It’s past the trade deadline, and as we approach the playoffs, the leading candidates for the NHL Awards make themselves more and more evident. One of them is Chicago GM Stan Bowman.

Bowman has been the GM for Chicago since 2009. He’s helped keep the team at the top of the Western Conference and has won three Cups with the team. He’s dumped off players worth their salary time and time again, and yet the Blackhawks remain a perennial contender. And he’s never won GM of the Year before.

Bowman’s Drafting Ability

The rookies who started and are now with the team make this case strong. Stan took over the team in the summer of 2009, and every rookie this year has been drafted or signed since then. That includes Michal Kempny, Gustav Forsling, Ryan Hartman, Nick Schmaltz, Tanner Kero, Vinnie Hinostroza, and Tyler Motte.

Nick Schmaltz could blossom into the Blackhawks long-term first line left wing. Ryan Hartman will be a dependable player for the Blackhawks for years to come. Kempny is a great young defenseman. Kero could be a depth center for the Blackhawks for a long time. Forsling will play a lot more next year, and Tyler Motte and Hinostroza will too.

That’s a lot of value drafted and signed by Bowman. Forsling and Kempny both signed from European leagues. Hartman and Schmaltz were drafted in the first round. Tyler Motte was drafted in the fourth round, Vinnie Hinostroza was drafted in the sixth. Tanner Kero was an undrafted free agent. Again, that’s doing a lot with not a lot. And it’s what Stan has done his whole career with the Blackhawks.

Brandon Saad, a former Blackhawk, was a second rounder. Andrew Shaw was a sixth rounder in his third draft. They’re not the only ones who have turned out from Bowman’s drafts. Hockey Reference has a whole list.

Bowman in Free Agency

Artemi Panarin and Dennis Rasmussen were free agents from European leagues. Bowman and

his scouts brought both of them in, and Panarin won the Calder while Rasmussen has been a critical depth center for the Blackhawks, and will likely step into Marcus Kruger’s role next year.

Jordin Tootoo was brought in through NHL Free Agency. So were Brian Campbell and Scott Darling. Campbell was an older defenseman who Stan got for cheap. Tootoo was a depth forward who he took a chance on. Scott Darling was an AHL goaltender who has become one of the better goaltenders in the NHL.

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Bowman Trades

Stan’s legacy for deadline trades is truly astounding. He’s brought in the likes of Antoine Vermette, Michal Handzus, Kimmo Timonen, Richard Panik, and reacquired Johnny Oduya at the deadline. Vermette, Handzus, and Timonen all contributed to Blackhawks cup runs. Oduya was a long time Blackhawks defenseman who has chemistry with the Blackhawks blue line. Panik looks to be a Blackhawks winger for years to come (hopefully.)

Vermette, Handzus, and Timonen all contributed to Blackhawks cup runs. Oduya was a long time Blackhawks defenseman who has chemistry with the Blackhawks blue line. Panik looks to be a Blackhawks winger for years to come (hopefully).

He’s also made trades at the draft and in the summer that have contributed to the Blackhawks success. Artem Anisimov was brought in through the Brandon Saad trade. Stan’s made numerous other trades throughout the years that have contributed to Blackhawks cup runs, like the Michal Frolik trade.

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Competition

Bowman will face tough competition this year, from upstart teams like the Blue Jackets and Predators. David Poile, GM of the Predators, and Jarmo Kekalainen, GM of the Blue Jackets, look to be Stan’s toughest competition this year. Both of those men have built surprising teams, but Bowman’s Blackhawks remain better contenders than either of those teams.