The meme is that the NHL just recycles the same six guys from team to team, but is that really true? Where do most of the GMs working for NHL teams come from?

  • Anaheim Ducks - GM Pat Verbeek was an AGM in Detroit and Tampa
  • Arizona Coyotes - GM Bill Armstrong was an AGM in St Louis
  • Boston Bruins - GM Don Sweeney was an AGM in Boston
  • Buffalo Sabres - GM Kevyn Adams was not working in hockey operations when hired, has no GM or AGM experience
  • Calgary Flames - New GM Craig Conroy was AGM in Calgary
  • Carolina Hurricanes - GM Don Waddell was President of the Hurricanes and becoming GM is a sort of demotion
  • Chicago Blackhawks - GM Kyle Davidson was an AGM in Chicago
  • Colorado Avalanche - GM Chris MacFarland was an AGM in Colorado
  • Columbus Blue Jackets - GM Jarmo Kekalainen was an AGM in St. Louis
  • Dallas Stars - GM Jim Nill was a VP in Detroit as well as an AGM
  • Detroit Red Wings - GM Steve Yzerman had been the GM in Tampa Bay
  • Edmonton Oilers - GM Ken Holland had been Senior VP and GM in Detroit
  • Florida Panthers - GM Bill Zito had been VP of Hockey Ops and Associate GM in Columbus  
  • Los Angeles Kings - GM Rob Blake had been AGM in LA and VP of Hockey Ops
  • Minnesota Wild - GM Bill Guerin had been AGM in Pittsburgh
  • Montréal Canadiens - GM Kent Hughes had never had a management role with a team
  • Nashville Predators - New GM Barry Trotz had never had a management role with a team
  • New Jersey Devils - GM Tom Fitzgerald was an AGM with the Devils
  • New York Islanders - GM Lou Lamoriello had been a GM with the Devils and the Leafs for decades
  • New York Rangers - GM Chris Drury had been an AGM with the Rangers
  • Ottawa Senators - GM Pierre Dorion had been an AGM with the Senators
  • Philadelphia Flyers - GM Daniel Briere had been a special assistant to the GM and had run an ECHL team
  • Pittsburgh Penguins - No GM at present
  • San Jose Sharks - GM Mike Grier had been an advisor with the Rangers
  • Seattle Kraken - GM Ron Francis had been GM in Carolina
  • St. Louis Blues - GM Doug Armstrong had been Director of Player Personnel in St. Louis and GM in Dallas
  • Tampa Bay Lightning - GM Julien BriseBois had been AGM in Tampa Bay
  • Toronto Maple Leafs - no GM at present
  • Vancouver Canucks - GM Patrik Alvin had been an AGM in Pittsburgh
  • Vegas Golden Knights - GM Kelly McCrimmon had been an AGM with Vegas
  • Washington Capitals - GM Brian MacLellan had been an AGM in Washington
  • Winnipeg Jets - GM Kevin Cheveldayoff began as GM in Atlanta, and was an AGM in Chicago before that

Most GMs are home grown talent developed in the team they ultimately manage. The next most common entry point is moving from an AGM spot on one team to a promotion on another. The teams that hire experienced GMs are few, and the hires are often very famous names. There's a surprising number of GMs in the NHL today who arrived from somewhere outside hockey ops on any team.