The Stars' general manager will represent Canada in a new international event featuring NHL players from four countries.
The Stars' general manager will represent Canada in a new international event featuring NHL players from four countries.
As gratifying as winning a Stanley Cup is, there's no greater feeling than representing your home country in international competition. This goes not only for players, but coaches and general managers as well.
Hockey Canada announced Friday that Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill has been named associate general manager of the management group that will lead Canada at the inaugural NHL 4 Nations Face-Off, which will be held in one United States and one Canadian city February 12-20, 2025.
Nill, who hails from Hannah, Alberta, will serve alongside Boston Bruins GM Don Sweeney, who will make his international management debut as general manager for the group.
Sweeney and Nill were also named assistant general managers of Canada's Men's Olympic Team for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.
This is not Nill's first taste of international competition. He served as director of player personnel (2003) and general manager (2004, 2015) of Canada's National Men's Team at the IIHF World Championship, capturing gold both in 2004 and 2015.
"As we continue to prepare for international competition over the next two years, I am thrilled to have Don and Jim lead Team Canada at the 2025 NHL 4 Nations Face-Off, and to welcome these two experienced general managers to our management group for the 2026 Olympics," St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong, who was named general manager of the group in March, said in a statement. "Both Don and Jim have enjoyed successful NHL careers and will represent the Maple Leaf with pride, and we know their experience will be a valuable asset as we build teams for two major international events in 2025 and 2026."
The 4 Nations Face-off will feature NHL players from the U.S., Canada, Finland, and Sweden, and will consist of seven games played under NHL rules.
The coaching staff and first six players are expected to be announced in June, and additional announcements regarding Canada's Men's Olympic Team will be made at a later date.
USA Hockey also named associate general managers for the U.S. Men's National Team Friday. Chris Drury (New York Rangers), Tom Fitzgerald (New Jersey Devils) and Bill Zito (Florida Panthers), were announced as assistant GM's, serving under Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin, who was recently named Team USA's general manager.
This is a well-deserved honor for Nill, who was named NHL GM of the Year in 2022-23. He has led the Stars to seven playoff appearances, including the Stanley Cup Final in the 2020 season.
Besides the gold medals he earned with Canada at the IIHF World Championship, Nill guided the Detroit Red Wings six Stanley Cup Final appearances and four championships, both as general manager and director of player development. He also won a Calder Cup in his one season as GM of the AHL'S Adirondack Red Wings in 1988-89.
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