Who's the best GM in the NHL? Depends on who you ask.

So we did. We polled our hockey analysts and contributors and asked them to rank the NHL general managers in order, 1-to-30. We assigned one point for a first-place vote and 30 for a last-place vote.

Here are the results, with explanations from our experts -- who don't always agree:

1. Lou Lamoriello, New Jersey

Points: 21 First-place votes: 4 Why: Very tough on contract structure. ... Tremendous skill at team construction. ... Being a control freak is his downfall ... Hell to work for, but has no equal in getting maximum mileage with limited payroll. ... Small but shrewd. ... No-nonsense business sense. ... Hard to take at times, but keeps everyone in line. ... He's the Lionel Barrymore character in "It's A Wonderful Life." In the dollar-poor NHL, however, Mr. Potter always comes out a winner. ... His biggest contribution is inspiring the quote from AWOL forward Mike Danton: "I'm not drinking anymore of Lou's Kool-Aid!" ... Not afraid to make a big deal or fire his coach. ... A hard-liner when it comes to contracts. ... It doesn't matter who's coaching -- which changes often -- but he always finds the right combinations of players who are consistent contenders for the Stanley Cup. ... Not the biggest payroll, but outside of a blip or two, a consistent contender. ... A pain in the butt to players and coaches, but he knows how to push the right buttons.

2. Pierre Lacroix, Colorado

Points: 28 First-place votes: 2 Why: Guts, brains, feel for chemistry, consistency and foresight in contract negotiations. ... Discreet and decisive. ... There's never a leak. ... Has a great scouting staff. ... Understands chemistry and moves anyone who won't fit in. ... Constantly looking to get better and willing to take chances to win. ... Has put together a very strong defensive corps to complement Forsberg and Sakic. ... "The Genius" -- he is always No. 1, no? Uh, no. ... He's never afraid to make a bold move whether it's a big deal at the trade deadline or firing his coach. ... Excellent evaluator of talent and not afraid to tell you about it. ... Never afraid to make the blockbuster deal to put them over the top. ... That Derek Morris deal's looking better all the time. ... Ego sometimes gets in the way (especially when it comes to hiring coaches). ... Has given up a lot of his depth, but the team still wins.

3. Ken Holland, Detroit

Points: 29 First-place votes: 3 Why: Good communicator, politician, savvy contract negotiator ... Yes, he has money, but spends it on the right players. Understands chemistry. Has built excellent scouting staff. ... Works his roster to win and at the same time has been developing top-end players like Zetterberg and Datsyuk. Has two more players in Europe who can play right now. ... A model of professionalism and consistency. ... Always willing to spend where spending is necessary, and also quite capable of pulling off the right trade. ... Inherited a great nucleus, but has done an excellent job of filling holes. ... Good at the deadline deal to put his team over the top. ... Lost legend in Scotty Bowman but hasn't missed a beat with former assistant Dave Lewis and powerhouse club. ... Back-to-back Cup wins. Sure, he's got more money to work with than Mike Illitch has pizza toppings but until the Wings are dethroned, he remains top dog. ... Sure his team has money, but he uses it extremely well. Quietly covers all the bases and always gives his team a chance to win.

4. Brian Burke, Vancouver

Points: 43 First-place votes: 1 Why: Creates structure for his team and individual players. Rewards key players before they become unhappy (like the Naslund contract extension ). Down to earth. ... Sometimes too blustery. ... It's taken a few years, but he finally gets it. Stubborn and head strong -- which sometimes hurts him. ... Sees the big picture but will be tested with all the free agents on his roster. ... Started well by signing Jovonovski to a new deal. ... Stuck with Cloutier, and that has worked out well. ... The feisty one has shown time and again the past couple of years that he has a real head for the game. ... Never stops working from the lip on up. ... He's built a brilliant team on a limited budget. ... Outspoken advocate for small-market teams. ... Sharp and articulate. ... He's not afraid to pull the trigger on big deals, especially at the draft. ... Great season by Naslund and Bertuzzi will lead Canucks far. ... Has carefully built the Canucks into a genuine Cup contender without sacrificing entertainment value. ... Pat Quinn put the Canucks together, but Burke has been smart enough not to tear it apart. ... The Cloutier pick-up was smart, but it cost him Aucoin.

5. Doug Risebrough, Minnesota

Points: 75 First-place votes: 0 Why: Mistakes in past have made him wiser. ...Good job with low budget. ... Deserves a ranking this high just for hiring Jacques Lemaire. ... Best move was convincing Lemaire to become his head coach. ... Decision to hire Lemaire makes every other decision that much smarter. ... The Wild have the right idea. ... No player is bigger than the team. ... Many questioned the drafting of tiny P.M. Bouchard, but he has been a regular. ... It's hard to argue with this guy's executive ability since the "Boys Gone Wild" are heading for the playoffs in the tougher Western Conference in just their third year. ... Drafts have been strong. ... Has made good moves consistently. ... Tough on-the-job learning experience in Calgary; he's making it count now. ... Nice job with goalies, too.

6. Doug Armstrong, Dallas

Points: 85 First-place votes: 0 Why: Well trained under Bob Gainey, he has picked right up where the ousted Gainey left off, except that the Stars are back where they were in Gainey's early GM days -- on top of the league. ... Spent free-agent money well this summer. ... Has pressure to win Cup. ... Young in experience, mature in his actions and words. ... Understands the importance of environment for players and other members of organization. ... Has made a mark early with Turco as his No. 1 goalie, Tugnutt as No. 2 and Moog as goalie coach. ... Hiring Dave Tippett was a brilliant move. ... Quietly has made moves to move the Stars back to the top of the pack. ... Picking up defencemen Philippe Boucher and Stephane Robidas were keys. ... Will get credit for powerhouse roster, but truth be told, spendthrift owner Tom Hicks stacked the deck for him. ... Can't argue with what he's done so far. ... Fixed a messy situation in not a whole lot of time.

7. Kevin Lowe, Edmonton

Points: 113 First-place votes: 0 Why: Bright young talent, player-friendly, believable, part of the "new-look NHL." ... Very bright and not afraid to make the tough call. ... Low-budget team always has to look to the future. Look for some major moves at the deadline. ... When you have 30 middle-class owners, it's pretty tough for any executive to lead his team to the front of the class. With that daunting challenge, Lowe is still learning. ... Has kept the Oilers competitive as budget allows. ... A very sharp mind, he's a guy who will be in demand when a richer franchise is looking for a GM. ... A rising star. ... Small-market teams in Canada are suffering, but his team has underachieved. ... Gets more mileage out of less money than anyone in the game. ... Has done a great job of being proactive with trades (Guerin for Carter). ... Just can't afford any mistakes (Jiri Dopita could really hurt).

8. Larry Pleau, St. Louis

Points: 114 First-place votes: 0 Why: Built a strong team, but how can you spend so much on big-name talent and still not have a goaltender? ... Has been patient long enough with goaltending -- time to step up with No. 1 goalie ... Jackman is the real deal. ... Has successfully kept this club contending over the past several seasons, through a variety of trades and big buys. ... Now the club is bleeding money and bad injury luck is sapping their season. ... Success is so elusive for Pleau. ... It's not his fault his best player (Chris Pronger) has been out for the year. ... The bridesmaid of NHL GMs. ... Has a big budget, but always seems to come out second when a big name is in play. ... His answer to any problem? Sign a free agent. ... Given the talent, time and available funds, needs a championship to push him into the top five. ... Grossly overpaid for Weight and Tkachuk, so that's a minus, but his team is always close to top.

9. Bryan Murray, Anaheim

Points: 119 First-place votes: 0 Why: Puts solid teams together from scratch, which is tough to do. ... Falls short of putting a "winner" together. ... Has done a very good job of of reshaping the Ducks into a playoff team. ... Mike Babcock was a great hire. ... Has Ducks in playoffs by hiring the NHL-untested Babcock, signing Oates and Sykora and trading for Ozolinsh. ... Seem like inspired moves. ... Good pick in Chistov for future. ... Can Disney's team really make the playoffs? If so, this guy's attempt to make Anaheim more than a one-toothed team doesn't look so Goofy. ... Has done a good job of turning the Mighty Ducks franchise around. ... He's given the franchise more edge. ... Initially looked like Paul Kariya was a one-man team. Now free agents are paying off. ... Talk about bringing a team back from the brink in two years. His work at building a defensive base last season was brilliant.

10. Dave Taylor, Los Angeles

Points: 123 First-place votes: 0 Why: See Kevin Lowe ... Can make tough decisions. ... Has built a solid core of players that just can't stay healthy. ... Injuries have killed this team, but he has been strong in his evaluation and drafting. ... Some successes, too many failures. ... And now the challenge of keeping a team together that is supposedly losing money by the bucketload. Bad times ahead in L.A. ... Would be of more use to his team if he had a medical degree. Team picture during his tenure should be an X-ray. ... Questionable drafting under his watch, but has made some good deals. ... Team has plenty of talent but never seems to go anywhere. ... Tough to adequately judge any team with this many injuries. ... Put together a great team on a decent budget, and injuries ripped it to shreds.

11. Pat Quinn, Toronto

Points: 126 First-place votes: 0 Why: Stretched too thin -- decide, coach or GM?. ... The new Pat is a slimmed-down version of the old Mighty Quinn, one of the world's best coaches still taking his hacks at management. ... While his free-agent wars aren't always won, Quinn's front-office teamwork is paying dividends on the ice. ... The Leafs aren't quite ready to be a contender yet. ... All eyes in Canada will be watching the big ol' Irishman keenly until March 11. ... His Maple Leafs moves don't always work out, but the guy knows personnel.

12. John Muckler, Ottawa

Points: 132 First-place votes: 0 Why: Smart man who inherited a very strong team. ... His next moves have a smaller margin for error than most teams ... Still his picks and team will be strong for many years. ... Adding Varada was a great move. ... Give him an incomplete: This guy came in when the team was already good. Then it went bankrupt, which essentially ties his hands from making any major moves. ... He inherited a heck of a team and is just starting to put an imprint on the team now. ... Was blessed with gifted roster when he took over but has only added to its attack. ... Medium budget, big results. ... Does anyone get credit for building this team? Muckler might get credit for pushing it over the top.

13. Bob Clarke, Philadelphia

Points: 138 First-place votes: 0 Why: Not patient enough. ... Can't get out of his own way. ... Finally signing quality players and making good trades. If he could stop lying he would move up in the rankings. ... At times overly aggressive and lacking patience but goes out and gets what he wants. ... Needs an offensive QB to man the power play and appears to be living ( and dying?) with Cechmanek in net. ... Got rid of a dog in Brendl, while adding Handzus for Boucher. ... The Howard Cosell of the NHL suit set -- half the voters would love him and half would hate him. ... Take his somewhat spotty trade record and money management and you could conclude that he's the worst GM in the league or the best GM in the league. But Ed Snider casts that last vote. ... The mastermind behind a playoff juggernaut. ... His team is what an NHL team would be if U.S. military accountants were in charge. ... You need a proven goaltender. Hello? Hello? ... Tends to tinker too much with roster. ... Just one more first-round playoff ouster from being unemployed. ... For all of his faults, he still puts a competitive team on the ice every year.

14. Craig Patrick, Pittsburgh

Points: 155 First-place votes: 0 Why: I downgraded him in past two years; used to be in the top three or four. ... Recent trades have not been great; if it is due to scouts, then get some new ones. ... Has no budget; that doesn't mean he doesn't know hockey players. ... Master adjuster: He went from being Mario Lemieux's boss who always listened to his star player, to Mario Lemieux's employee who always listened to his boss, to being Mario Lemieux's boss who was actually his employee who always listened to him either way. ... Tough to judge a guy who has little budget with which to operate and is forced to make deals like the one which gave Alexei Kovalev away. ... Long fall for a guy who built Stanley Cup winners. ... How long before he leaves to be a real GM somewhere else? ... Poor financial situation has handcuffed front office. ... With Mario retiring again, or so it appears, future looks grim. ... Not even Mario can save this bunch. ... If he was forced to get money for his superstars, he should have stood up and stopped the madness. State of franchise is really sad right now.

15. David Poile, Nashville

Points: 170 First-place votes: 0 Why: Too patient. ... Time to get some talent. ... Hasn't done anything to warrant high ranking. ... A late-season turnaround is likely to save coach Barry Trotz's job now. But will it allow Poile off the hook for being so slow to upgrade the roster the past couple of years? ... All the GMs of expansion teams fail in comparison to Risebrough right now. ... Poile's team is making progress, but so do glaciers. ... One of the least-known rosters in the league. However, it's making noise. ... Isn't playing on the same field many of his peers are. ... Faith in Trotz and patience with kids are starting to pay off.

16. (tie) Jay Feaster, Tampa Bay

Points: 175 First-place votes: 0 Why: Has done a good job of "righting the ship." ... Has good group of smaller, faster forwards and got LeCcavalier and Tortorella on the same page. ... Good move bringing in Grahame to spell Khabibulin. ... Joni Pitkanen -- remember that name. Feaster, who last summer traded that should-be Flyers defensive star of the future for third-line talent Ruslan Fedotenko, surely will, especially if the Lightning don't make the playoffs. ... Who? ... Now that the front office has much-needed stability, Feaster is free to nurture young team into a contender. ... Who would've picked the Bolts to be a serious playoff contender in the East. .. Can't really fault him for anything he has done yet, but you can't really credit him, either.

16. (tie) Dean Lombardi, San Jose

Points: 175 First-place votes: 0 Why: Gets good value in trades ... Decisive (see Darryl Sutter change ). ... Should have worked harder to get Nabokov and Stuart under contract early, but has done good job in putting this underachieving team together. ... McLaren-for-Sundstrom deal was solid. ...Judging by the record and the way the players have so obviously given up, is there any reason why this guy isn't in trouble? ... Clock has to be ticking. ... They've tried everything else there, big trades and firing the coach. ... Lombardi's greatest skill has been dodging the axe himself. ... Supposedly the pick to come out of the West this year. Enough said. ... He built a solid contender, but the Sharks have sure been in the tank this season. ... Let's not kick the guy too far downstairs: This is still a talented team with loads of potential.

18. (tie) Mike Milbury, N.Y. Islanders

Points: 177 First-place votes: 0 Why: One step forward, two steps sideways, two steps back -- where are we now? I'm not sure, is he? ... His schizophrenia has finally given way to sanity. ... Certainly not afraid to take a chance or make a stand. ... Finally has some money to work with. ... Ever the sarcastic survivor, Milbury enjoyed his one-year renaissance last season, and has spent much of this year being accused again of being an unworthy GM. ... Now his club is back on its feet and Mad Mike is ready to start shooting from the lip again. ... Isn't it about time Mad Mike trades a goaltender? ... Has done a good job of building teams with trades. Unfortunately none of them are named the Islanders. ... In the past has had a hair-trigger finger but has exercised some much-needed patience and has made a few good moves, not a good many bizarre ones. ... The Madness of King Mike doesn't seem quite so out-there anymore. ... Team is winning, but goalie-go-round and Yashin signing leave a bitter taste.

18. (tie) Rick Dudley, Florida

Points: 177 First-place votes: 0 Why: Mediocre in Tampa. ... Biggest challenge is keep Keenan happy as merely a head coach. ... Can he survive Keenan? ... Dudley proved long ago that he could develop into one of the league's best talent evaluators. ... Committed to building a speedy team loaded with Euros, a questionable strategy, especially with Keenan as coach. ... Caught in a budget squeeze and the abandoning of obstruction rules. ... One of the most liberal thinking GMs when it comes to rule changes. ... Who's really in charge in this front office? ... Trying to make inroads. ... Hardest-working GM in hockey, so why can't he stick with one team? ... Will be better when Keenan is gone.

20. Jim Rutherford, Carolina

Points: 184 First-place votes: 0 Why: Still has a good young core. ... The stars were aligned to perfection last year; now the sky is black. ... Still got to the finals last year but will be tested to keep this team in the hunt next year. ... To go from the NHL finals to the NHL basement? It's within reach in his all-too-real nightmare season. He's in the middle of it. ... Looked brilliant last spring for standing by coach Paul Maurice. Now? Maurice's five-year contract extension doesn't look so good. ... Club surprised many with run to the finals last year. ... This year was a disappointment, but Rutherford's smarts will enable team to rebound. ... What a difference a year makes. .. Team was a paper tiger last year, and it's showing on ice this season. ... Still has acquired some decent young players.

21. George McPhee, Washington

Points: 189 First-place votes: 0 Why: Jagr deal was well-handled. ... Needs to build a better defense soon ... Traded holdout Nikolishin and Simon for Nylander while having patience early with new coach Cassidy. ... Brought in Grier to complement solid checking line. ... Packs plenty of management punch, although owner Ted Leonsis' money well might soon leave him high and dry. ... The more money he spends, the worse his team gets. ... The question remains how much influence his owner has over personnel decisions. ... They might be in the nation's capitol, but you can't run a team like it's Congress. ... Widely believed it was Leonsis who wanted Jagr. McPhee's challenge was to make it work. ... Tough start, didn't panic, believed in what he had assembled. ... Has quietly made team younger, but you still worry about chemistry.

22. Doug MacLean, Columbus

Points: 197 First-place votes: 0 Why: Put a strong structure in place from scratch. ... Team has stalled a little in its development. ... Next year must get some more talent, or will drop off. ... Great salesman, and as a result, good deal maker. ... His last-minute dealings at the draft landed big Rick Nash, a great move. ... He brought Cassels to go with Sanderson and now he has to sign both Sanderson and Whitney. ... Had faith in Denis to trade Tugnutt and that worked. ... You know, for a GM, he always was a pretty good coach, wasn't he? ... His problem is his team had too much success its first year. ... Bought himself some time by taking over coaching duties from Dave King. ... Could be a better coach than a GM, but knows where the better job security lies. ... Team is just a blip on the Western Conference radar screen. ... This guy signed Luke Richardson for how much? ... Needs to trust kids more. ... Is trying to build for the future with 30-somethings.

23. Mike O'Connell, Boston

Points: 203 First-place votes: 0 Why: Working under Harry Sinden will cramp anybody's style! ... Looked great early with his decisions, but not now. ... Considering this guy has to put up with Sinden's petulant ponderings, he has to earn good marks for patience. Then again, the team stinks. ... He's measured by his bosses in Beantown by how much money he puts in the till. ... Possesses the most important quality for a B's GM: spend the money like it's your own. ... Right to give Thornton the bit and let him run with it, but there's not enough of a supporting cast, especially on defense. ... First half: Inspired! Second half (so far): Insipid. ... Goaltending gaffe of the summer is pretty much unforgivable. ... Losses of Guerin and McLaren don't help.

24. Mike Barnett, Phoenix

Points: 217 First-place votes: 0 Why: New GM with strong contract background; can he ever get the funds he needs? ... The league's best-tanned GM also isn't working with a full financial deck. ... How he resolves the pending trades of Sean Burke and Teppo Numminen should offer an indication of his front-office progress. ... One of the best agents ever is finding life on the other side ain't so easy. ... Hands have been tied by budget restraints, but still ices a competitive team. ... Maybe new building will save franchise. ... Best move was keeping Bobby Francis behind the bench. ... It's going to be a long rebuilding process in the desert. ... Cliff Fletcher has done most of the work, but Barnett could be huge when Coyotes have money for free agents.

25. Don Waddell, Atlanta

Points: 227 First-place votes: 0 Why: He and his team are moving upward quickly. ... Strong drafts; very good depth added this year. ... Can he continue the strong move ? ... Upon further review, for a general manager, he was a pretty good head coach. ... Bob Hartley was a good hire as coach. ... Letting Hartley convince him to go back upstairs helped, though. ... Falls in the rankings just for his disastrous goaltender signings. He's paying Damian Rhodes and Byron Dafoe $4.2 million not to play this year. ... Just biding his time until Heatley and Kovalchuk take over the league and Dafoe comes back from his umpteenth groin strain. ... Dafoe has the option next year; what was he thinking? ... Two surefire drafts do not a career make. ... When goalie Kari Lehtonen plays, he'll skyrocket up chart. Until then, though, Waddell is only as good as his goaltenders.

26. Andre Savard, Montreal

Points: 229 First-place votes: 0 Why: Hasn't shown that he is different from the last regimes, which were too introspective and had lost touch with the modern NHL. ... Sad; a big, old ship fighting an old war. ... It's too bad this underachieving team doesn't show it, but Savard has put in a very solid executive tenure in a market that's nearly impossible to succeed in. ... An overbearing history, an intrusive fanbase, an unstable ownership situation. ... There's always more to the Canadiens than hockey issues. ... Got off to a great start, but is now being haunted by the likes of big-ticket flops like Mariusz Czerkawski and Donald Audette and the signings of Randy McKay and Patrice Brisebois. ... Boosted the payroll only to see the club's performance fall off. ... Should stick to scouting. ... The Habs are going to be hard-pressed to make the postseason this year. ... Does it seem that every player who leaves Montreal gets better with his new team?

27. Glen Sather, NY Rangers

Points: 232 First-place votes: 0 Why: Used to be revered as a top guru when he had a small budget ... How the mighty have fallen. ... "If I had the Rangers' budget, I'd never lose a game" (he said that with the Oilers). ... Still made good trades for Poti, Dunham, Barnaby, Kovalev. ... Does he still think this new job is a well-paid excuse for a working vacation? ... Hope he enjoys coaching that last week after the team has been eliminated. ... Had an unlimited budget, and he exceeded it and his team still isn't in the playoffs. ... Is he going to have to fire himself? ... When he had no money, he had good teams. Now that he has all he wants, he can't seem to figure out how to spend wisely. ... Slats and "genius" don't come up often anymore in word association games. ... The poster boys for fiscal waste. ... Seriously, could this team be any bigger of a mess than it is right now?

28. Darcy Regier, Buffalo

Points: 257 First-place votes: 0 Why: Nobody wants his current financial and psychological situation. ... Never seems to be able to get enough talent together in the same year. ... Handcuffed. ... When will they be allowed to fire him? ... Nothing against Regier, but given his team's financial situation, he's a non-player right now. ... Financial disasters have skewed the way his performance is viewed. ... Puts the "d" in disaster. ... Not that bad, really, but not that great either. ... It won't matter what he did if his team is broken down.

29. Mike Smith, Chicago

Points: 263 First-place votes: 0 Why: Went to the Bobby Clarke school of PR. ... His presence seems more like a cloud. ... Enough with the Russians already. ... Said Fleury and Berezin could replace Amonte. I know Tony has had an off year, but he never embarrassed the Blackhawks off the ice. ... If he took the salary of them both and signed Amonte, he'd have money left over. ... From the disaster that was Alpo Suhonen to the travesty that is Fleury ... Smith simply has made too many bad decisions with coaching and players. ... Keeps trying to rebuild the Central Red Army Team in the NHL. Mike, scouting involves more than looking at passports. ... Had the sense to hire Brian Sutter, who has club overachieving, but not much else to get excited about. ... Unfortunately, the Theo Fleury experiment has been a disaster. ... Fantastic mind for talent, but maybe better suited as director of player personnel.

30. Craig Button, Calgary

Points: 277 First-place votes: 0 Why: Too little too late. ... Pierre Lacroix would need several years and a very friendly salary cap to fix this team and prevent it from becoming the next Winnipeg. ... How many times have the Flames made the playoffs under Button? Zero. How many times have they come close to making the playoffs under Button? Uh, that would be zilch, too. ... Takes the heat for the Flames' regression this year, but the question is how much interference does he get from Lanny McDonald and Jim Peplinski? ... Money is tight, market is small, but team should be more than just Iginla, and it's not. ... His contract is up at the end of the season, and this is three years in a row with no playoffs on his watch (and he's on his third coach). ... Has made some smart moves, but he bungled coaching hires (putting rebuilding program two years behind), bet on the wrong goalie and traded away Jean-Sebastien Giguere.