It would certainly be unprecedented, but halfway through the season, it's clear that the Washington Capitals' outgoing GM crushed it last summer, says Ken Campbell. Brian MacLellan and John Carlson [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjExOTU3MTA1ODE5NjU4MjE2/usatsi_22969014_168400847_lowres.jpg] Brian MacLellan and John Carlson Well, this has the potential to be awkward, doesn't it? The Washington Capitals [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/washington-capitals/], expected by most pundits prior to the season to be a fringe playoff team, find themselves in first place in the Eastern Conference and second overall in the NHL, approaching the halfway point of the 2024-25 campaign. That's the kind of work that gets a guy - or perhaps a woman in the future - consideration for the Jim Gregory Award as the GM of the year, particularly when you were as busy as the Capitals were over the summer. But to whom would the NHL give the award? Certainly, it can't go to Chris Patrick, who took over for Brian MacLellan [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/washington-capitals/news/washington-capitals-front-office-restructure-chris-patrick-general-manger], who stepped down (actually up, to president of hockey operations) from the post in July. But by that time, it was MacLellan who had done all the heavy lifting to restructure the Caps' roster, changes that have seen them morph into a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. At the very least, the NHL would have to give the award to both of them, pending the moves Patrick might make leading up to the trade deadline. But make no mistake, this roster was constructed and reconstructed by Brian MacLellan. That's why he deserves to be considered for the award. Here's more: It would certainly be unprecedented, but halfway through the season, it's clear that the Washington Capitals' outgoing GM crushed it last summer, says Ken Campbell. (Don't see the video? Click here [https://thehockeynews.com/video/can-the-nhl-give-its-gm-of-the-year-award-to-brian-maclellan].) Get the latest news and trending stories right to your inbox by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here [https://info.thehockeynews.com/mail/microsites/951/1/gTeQVf?_gl=1*ustlbj*_ga*NjkyMzUxMy4xNjYzNjIwMzQ3*_ga_PK63FB1PME*MTcxMzUwOTExNi40NDguMS4xNzEzNTA5MjA5LjU5LjAuMA..]. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or by visiting our forum [https://thehockeynews.rtb.io/THNHOME/posts].
