Photo: Washington Capitals

The National Hockey League (NHL) announced today that Capitals senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan is one of three finalists for the 2015-16 General Manager of the Year Award. 

From Capital Press Release:

MacLellan, 57, is vying to become the first Capitals general manager to win the award since it was introduced in 2009-10. MacLellan assembled a roster that was a runaway winner of the 2015-16 Presidents’ Trophy as the NHL’s top regular-season club (56-18-8, 120 points). The Capitals’ 56 victories set a franchise record and made them just the 10th team in League history to collect as many wins in one season – and the first to do so since the 2005-06 Detroit Red Wings (58). Washington also set the franchise record in road victories this season (27) and its 120 points fell one shy of the team record set in 2009-10 (121). After signing free-agent defensemen Matt Niskanen and Brooks Orpik in 2014, MacLellan acquired a pair of key forwards last summer, signing Justin Williams and trading for T.J. Oshie. The Capitals ranked second in both goals per game (3.02) and goals-against per game (2.33) in 2015-16.

MacLellan was named the sixth general manager in the Capitals history on May 26, 2014. Washington has reached the 100-point plateau in each of his first two seasons as general manager (2014-15: 101 points). He is in his 15th season with Washington after serving as the team’s assistant general manager, player personnel for the previous seven seasons.