31. Jim Benning – Vancouver Canucks
GM Score (out of 5): 2.3
Best Attribute: Extensions
Worst Attribute: Player Development
Change in total GAR: -45%
Max GAR Ranking: 17th
It's hard to discern whether Benning has been hamstrung by ownership, but no team has deteriorated more since 2013. The Canucks have gotten younger recently, but it's unlikely guys like Bo Horvat and Brock Boeser are going to be enough to turn the team around. While Benning did make some savvy trades at this year's deadline, with the weight of his tenure stacked against him, it's highly doubtful he'll be able to see the Canucks' rebuild through.
30. Pierre Dorion – Ottawa Senators
GM Score (out of 5): 2.3
Best Attribute: UFAs
Worst Attribute: Drafting
Change in total GAR: -21%
Max GAR Ranking: 13
Dorion took over for former boss Bryan Murry last year. Some of the moves have made sense, but when you're trading away Mika Zibanejad and getting fleeced for Alexandre Burrows by our worst ranked GM, that's saying something. Dorion did improve the Senator's fourth line at the trade deadline, but much of this year's success is credit to Boucher's improved defensive systems, and of course, generational defenseman Erik Karlsson playing like the generational defenseman he is. Still, one year is generally not enough to really judge a GM, and Dorion could climb the ranks easily.
7. Kevin Cheveldayoff – Winnipeg Jets
GM Score (out of 5): 3.4
Best Attribute: Drafting
Worst Attribute: Trades
Change in total GAR: +5%
Max GAR Ranking: 8
Winnipeg has little on-ice success to show for Cheveldayoff's efforts, but he has quietly built an intriguing young team through the draft, including franchise cornerstone Patrik Laine. Blake Wheeler and Mark Scheifle have developed into bonafide stars under his watch, and the team wisely chose extending Dustin Byfuglien over Andrew Ladd. The team has a deep pool of prospects, but Jacob Trouba's contentious extension talks leaves the team's future up in the air.
1. Dave Poile – Nashville Predators
GM Score (out of 5): 4
Best Attribute: Player Development
Worst Attribute: UFAs
Change in total GAR: -3%
Max GAR Ranking: 3
David Poile is possibly the league's most underrated GM. He rated so highly because he has prioritized drafting and development, particularly of defensemen, which has allowed the Predators to be a winning team while on a budget. His emphasis on development has also meant they haven't had to hit the free agent market as often, and when he has made a trade recently, such as Neal for Hornqvist or Jones for Johansen, it tends to be a win-win (well, Subban for Weber is a bit lopsided). Oh and that whole Forsberg for Erat thing. That was good. The major strike against him, unfortunately can't be measured by effectiveness. Signing Mike Ribeiro and then defending him as a ”family man" is enough to understandably torpedo opinions of him.