Coyotes' Maloney is NHL GM of Year

PHOENIX, June 2 (UPI) -- Phoenix's Don Maloney was named the winner of the NHL's inaugural General Manager of the Year Award Wednesday.

George McPhee of Washington and David Poile of Nashville were the other two finalists.

Maloney, who took over in Phoenix three years ago, is credited with bringing in several veterans to flesh out a core of talented young players. With Dave Tippett as coach, the Coyotes compiled their best-ever finish and reached the playoffs for the first time since 2002.

Phoenix pushed Detroit to seven games in the first round before bowing out.

The GM of the Year award is voted by the league's 30 general managers and a panel of NHL executives and media members.