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It’s early in the NHL’s current season, but there are already some clear-cut candidates for the league’s Jack Adams Award as the coach of the year.
Here’s this writer’s perspective on which five NHL coaches are leading the pack for the Jack Adams. In no particular order:
Paul Maurice, Florida Panthers
Sometimes, the Jack Adams is given as a type of lifetime achievement honor, but each coach given the award must have had great regular-season success in that particular year. Maurice has already guided the Panthers to a 7-3-1 start in the highly competitive Atlantic Division.
As we noted last week, Maurice is one of the most accomplished coaches of his generation, and he finally broke through with his first Stanley Cup championship with Florida last season. A Jack Adams win would underscore his achievements, and he still has many more seasons ahead of him to add more than one Jack Adams.
Related: Paul Maurice Is One Of The Best NHL Coaches Ever – Even Before His Extension
Spencer Carbery, Washington Capitals
The Capitals made massive changes to their lineup this past summer. But one of the constants between Washington’s run to the playoffs and their current hot streak to start the year is Carbery, who finished seventh in voting for the Jack Adams last season.
Carbery was highly regarded as an assistant before taking the Caps’ job last year, and this season, he’s proving his achievements were no fluke. If Carbery guides Washington to the top of the Metropolitan Division, he will get even more Jack Adams votes next spring, and if he does win the award, no one will begrudge him as someone whose talents were exaggerated.
Scott Arniel, Winnipeg Jets
No team had a hotter start to the current season than the Jets. Arniel is doing well so far in his second NHL coaching job with Winnipeg after guiding the Columbus Blue Jackets to a fourth-place finish in the Central Division in 2010-11.
Arniel has gotten plenty of help from star Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who could win back-to-back Vezina Trophies. But Arniel has accentuated the positives for the Jets – namely, their speed, high-end skill and savvy possession game.
If the Jets continue to dominate, Arniel will garner many Jack Adams votes. Arniel isn’t a household name, but if Winnipeg flourishes, he will become one – and a Jack Adams Award could be one of his rewards.
Related: NHL Power Rankings: Jets Still Soar, But It’s Very Close Up Top
Bruce Cassidy, Vegas Golden Knights
Cassidy won his first Jack Adams coaching Boston in 2019-20. If he wins this year’s coach-of-the-year award, Cassidy will join a select few bench bosses in winning at least two Jack Adams Awards with two different franchises – a group that includes John Tortorella, Barry Trotz, Pat Quinn and Scotty Bowman.
Cassidy benefits from coaching one of the deepest teams in the NHL, but he’s shown the ability to successfully acclimate to a new organization and quickly get a group of players playing the right way. If he guides the Golden Knights to a top spot in the Pacific Division, Cassidy will certainly be in the running for his second Jack Adams.
Peter DeBoer, Dallas Stars
DeBoer’s been coaching in the NHL since 2008–09. While he’s coached five different teams in that span (Florida, New Jersey, San Jose, Vegas and Dallas), DeBoer has piled up the wins – posting a 619-423-146 record – and he’s currently got his Stars team clicking on all gears at 7-2-0.
DeBoer clearly has the respect of GMs throughout the league, but he has yet to win a Jack Adams Award. Another stellar season from Dallas will almost assuredly make him a Jack Adams front-runner this season. If he guides the Stars to the second Cup in team history, DeBoer will be staying in Texas for the foreseeable future.
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