Last week, there was a ranking of the top five overrated general managers (GMs) in the NHL. With the help of multiple writers here at The Hockey Writers, an opinion-based list was possible. Now, it’s time to look at the other end of the spectrum and dive into the underrated GMs in the league.
Related: 5 Most Overrated NHL General Managers for 2025-26
Like the overrated list, this ranking requires a lot of subjectivity. It’s about the public perception of a GM compared to the results, and once a GM has significant success, they aren’t underrated anymore (which happened to a few in the league). So, let’s dive in!
5. Kelly McCrimmon
It’s hard to call Kelly McCrimmon underrated since he’s regarded as one of the best GMs in the NHL. He built the Vegas Golden Knights to a Cup title in 2023 and has kept them near the top of the Western Conference. That being said, McCrimmon doesn’t get enough credit for the job he’s done.
When he was hired as the GM in 2019, the Golden Knights were a good team entering their third season of existence. They were a good team, but not in the Cup conversation. McCrimmon made the moves to put them over the top by signing Alex Pietrangelo and acquiring Jack Eichel.
Better yet, McCrimmon kept the Golden Knights in contention even after the successful 2022-23 season. Usually, teams regress after being dominant for a few seasons, and his willingness to keep pushing the chips into the middle of the table has kept them great and made them a destination. It’s why the Mitch Marner addition was possible, as the Golden Knights are a team that star players want to join.
4. Chris MacFarland
The job Chris MacFarland did last season was admirable. Sure, the Mikko Rantanen trade can be questioned, especially since the star player ended up with the Dallas Stars and single-handedly took over Game 7 to defeat the Colorado Avalanche in the playoffs. However, the lasting impression overshadows the work MacFarland did to transform this team.
He took a team with plenty of star power but no depth and made it a well-rounded group. The Rantanen deal gave the Avalanche Martin Necas and Jack Drury, a top-six forward and a depth skater, while the Brock Nelson deal gave them a top-six center to build around. Moreover, MacFarland overhauled the goaltending to turn the weakness into a strength.
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