Panthers GM Bill Zito named finalists for Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award
Is this the year for Bill Zito?
On Friday morning we learned that Zito has been named a finalist for the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award.
It's the fourth time in Zito's five seasons in Florida's front office that he's been named a finalist for the award.
He's been more than deserving, as Zito has overseen the biggest shift in success that this franchise has ever seen.
Before Zito was hired in September of 2020, Florida had not won a playoff series since 1996.
In the five seasons since, the Panthers have made the playoffs in each year.
They won the Presidents' Trophy in 2022 as the league's best regular season team.
Over the past three seasons, Florida has reached the Eastern Conference Final each year, advancing to the Stanley Cup Final in both 2023 and 2024.
Oh, and they won the whole thing last June.
The roster that Zito has built is one of the absolute best in the league, featuring a combination of high-end talent and solid depth players that comprise arguably the tightest, friendliest and most cohesive locker room in the NHL.
Zito has signed much of Florida's core to long-term extensions that will keep the team together for the foreseeable future, including Panthers Captain Sasha Barkov and team leader Matthew Tkachuk.
Team-friendly extensions were signed by key players Sam Reinhart, Anton Lundell, Carter Verhaeghe, Gus Forsling and Dmitry Kulikov.
Via trade, Zito has acquired Tkachuk, Reinhart, Sam Bennett, Seth Jones, and let's not forget players who have since departed like Brandon Montour, Kevin Stenlund, Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Anthony Stolarz.
To his credit, Zito has told THN Florida that he cares about winning the 'big silvery trophy' than the GM of the Year award, but still, if anybody is deserving of recognition for the job he's done in the front office, its Zito.
Also nominated this year are Dallas GM Jim Nill, who has won the award in each of the past two seasons, and Winnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff.
Voting for the award is done by NHL general managers and a panel of league executives.
The winner will be announced during NHL Awards later this summer.
LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA
Matthew Tkachuk Reacts To Panthers' Game 2 Blowout Win
Handful of fun Cats stats following Panthers dominant Game 2 victory in Carolina
Panthers cruise to Game 2 victory in Carolina, carry 2-0 series lead back to Florida
Sam Reinhart knocked out of Game 2 after taking hit from Sebastian Aho
3 Panthers Who Must Shine In Game 2 vs. Hurricanes
Photo caption: Jun 7, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers general manager Bill Zito speaks to reporters during media day in advance of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live: Reaction As Panthers Beat Hurricanes In Game 1
Welcome to The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live, streaming nightly during the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs. After the big game of the night, our experts go live to react to the match that was, break down the key moments and storylines and read your opinions. Advertisement On tonight's show, Katie Gaus and Michael Augello react to the Florida Panthers beating the Carolina Hurricanes 5-2 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final. Panthers vs Hurricanes Game 1 - Playoff Frenzy | The Hockey News Panthers vs Hurricanes Game 1 - Playoff Frenzy | The Hockey News Welcome to Playoff Frenzy Live by The Hockey News presented by where we give our live reactions and break down the latest news to all the biggest g... Share your thoughts in the comments, and the hosts may discuss your message during the stream. Check out the show right now. Promo image credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
How many times has LSU won the College World Series?
There is perhaps not a more storied and decorated college baseball program in the country than LSU. The sixth-ranked Tigers have an opportunity to add to that history over the next few days at Charles Schwab Field as LSU opens up the best-of-three College World Series championship series on June 21 against No. 13 Coastal Carolina. LSU enters championship week in Omaha coming off a thrilling come-from-behind victory against No. 3 Arkansas in the CWS semifinals on June 18. Trailing by two runs heading into the bottom of the ninth, LSU plated three runs in the inning, all of which came on Arkansas fielding mistakes. Jared Jones was the hero for the Tigers with the walk-off single into center. REQUIRED READING: LSU baseball vs Everybody? America rooting for Coastal Carolina at College World Series A series win for LSU would bring a second national championship in the last three years to its trophy case in Baton Rouge. Here's what to know about LSU's history in the CWS championship series, and more: How many times has LSU won the College World Series? LSU has won the College World Series seven times in its rich history. The Tigers first dogpiled in Omaha in 1991 when they defeated Wichita State 6-3. LSU would then win three national titles in a span of five years from 1993 through 1997, a time period that helped build LSU into an SEC and national powerhouse. Then-LSU manager Skip Bertman led the Tigers to their fifth championship in 2000, making him one of just three head coaches to win five NCAA baseball titles. The Tigers' sixth national title came under Paul Mainieri in 2009, when LSU defeated Texas two games to one. When did LSU last win the College World Series? LSU last won the College World Series in 2023, when it took two of three games against No. 2 Florida. The Tigers, a No. 5 seed that season, took Game 1 against the Gators by a score of 4-3. Florida bounced back in Game 2 and crushed LSU, 24-4. Wyatt Langford and Jac Caglianone were unstoppable for the Gators, a combined 7-for-11 at the plate with 11 RBIs, seven runs scored and three home runs. But LSU won the winner-take-all Game 3 against Florida by another lopsided score of 18-4. After falling into a 2-0 deficit after the first inning, LSU plated 10 runs across the second and fourth innings to take a 10-2 lead and never looked back. Brayden Jobert led LSU with three runs — including a home run — and three RBIs. Dylan Crews and Tre' Morgan each scored three runs. LSU recorded 24 total hits compared to Florida's five. "We got punched in the mouth yesterday," Crews said after winning the national championship. "That's the beauty of baseball. You wake up in the morning and do it all over again. We woke up today and you could see on everybody's faces that we were ready to go. Nobody in the country was going to beat us today." To make the CWS finals in 2023, LSU went 3-1 in winners' bracket play, with that lone loss coming in the first CWS semifinal vs. Wake Forest. The Tigers, who needed just a win to advance to the finals, bounced back in the "if necessary" CWS semifinal game vs. the top seeded Demon Deacons, 2-0, behind a masterful eight-inning outing from Paul Skenes and a two-run, walk-off home run from Tommy White. LSU baseball College World Series championship history, record Here's a full breakdown of how LSU has fared in the College World Series championship series: Most College World Series titles Among all Division I baseball programs, LSU ranks second for most College World Series titles, with seven. LSU moved into sole possession of second place with its 2023 CWS title. It had been in a tie with Texas. The only team that sits ahead of LSU on the list is USC with 12 titles, though the Tigers have won three CWS titles since the Trojans won their last championship in 1998. Here's a breakdown of where LSU ranks among all Division I programs when it comes to most CWS titles:
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Buccaneers Rookie Already Making Waves This Offseason
Buccaneers Rookie Already Making Waves This Offseason originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers already had one of the most explosive offenses in football, and now we add in first-round pick Emeka Egbuka to the mix, and suddenly, Baker Mayfield has an embarrassment of riches. Advertisement With Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan, Cade Otton, Bucky Irving, and Rachaad White, it might be hard for Egbuka to stand out. However, he's already doing it, and yes, we get it, receivers were going against air with defenders not able to be physical at minicamp, but it is a good start for a rookie. And for Bleacher Report's Damien Parson, if Emeka continues to trend upward, the 2025 season might see him have a big say in proceedings. "If the Buccaneers ease Godwin back into action, Egbuka will see plenty of playing time opposite Evans," Parson wrote. "Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield praised Egbuka's football IQ and said the team could "plug and play" him in any receiver position. If his level of play is similar or elevates when the pads are on, he will secure a major role in the Buccaneers offense." Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Emeka Egbuka catches a pass during the pro day for NFL scouts at the Woody Hayes Athletic CenteAdam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The biggest question aimed at Buccaneers offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard and Mayfield is how they will feed all of those receivers with only one football. Advertisement Plus, Irving and the run game will take some of the reps away, too. So there is a delicate balancing act the Buccaneers must undertake in 2025, but make no mistake, Egbuka will be part of this offense, and he allows Godwin to ease himself back from his nasty ankle injury. Egbuka comes into a great situation to begin his NFL career, and he might play a starring role in Year 1. Related: Buccaneers' Jason Licht Reveals 'No Fight' Over Baker Mayfield Decision Related: Buccaneers' Second-Year Running Back Bucky Irving Not Content with Rookie Campaign This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared.
