As the NHL Awards Watch for the 2021-22 season begins, there's only one award that has a clear frontrunner.
No, not Connor McDavid for the MVP.
Bill Armstrong for general manager of the year.
The general manager of the year should be the one that best accomplishes the task at hand. In most cases, that means challenging for the Stanley Cup. In the Arizona Coyotes' case, that means ensuring the best possible odds of landing a top pick in the 2022 NHL draft by performing a gut renovation of their roster, while creating the least competitive group possible above the NHL salary floor.