As we approach the midway point of this lockout-shortened season, it’s time to take a look at the top Jack Adams Award candidates. St. Louis Blues head coach Ken Hitchcock was a runaway winner last season, but as usual there are some new names in the running to be named coach of the year. Here are five prime candidates.
1. Michel Therrien, Montreal Canadiens
The NHL’s biggest surprise through the season’s first half has to be the Montreal Canadiens. Much of the credit should go to Therrien, who has the Canadiens playing great hockey. An immediate buy-in from the players has the storied franchise atop the Eastern Conference, something no pundits could foresee happening six weeks ago. Therrien is the only new coach (as of January) that has his team in a playoff position — impressive in a shortened season with an abbreviated training camp and limited practice time.
2. Bruce Boudreau, Anaheim Ducks
If it weren’t for Therrien’s Canadiens, Anaheim’s bench boss may be running away with this award. Boudreau has done a tremendous job since taking over as the Ducks’ head coach in December 2011. The team did improve under Boudreau in the second half of last season, but they have been one of the league’s best in the first half. Boudreau has gotten more out of some youngsters (i.e. Kyle Palmieri, Matt Beleskey) than the previous regime and helped Bobby Ryan’s mindset after the endless trade rumours in 2011-12.
3. Joel Quenneville, Chicago Blackhawks
You can make an argument that Quenneville should be higher on this list, but he hasn’t had the same impact on his team that Therrien and Boudreau have had. Still, Coach Q has pushed all the right buttons during Chicago’s historic start to the season. Most notably he has played his cards right in the crease, where Corey Crawford (partially due to injury) and Ray Emery have shared playing time. It’s easy to win with so much talent, but Quenneville’s influence on the Blackhawks this season shouldn’t go unnoticed.
4. Paul MacLean, Ottawa Senators
How many other teams would stay in playoff positioning after losing their top two offensive producers (Jason Spezza and Erik Karlsson) and a consistent goaltender (Craig Anderson)? Not many, but Ottawa has proven to be one of them. In his second year behind the Senators’ bench, MacLean has done more than just keep his team’s head above water. Ottawa is just four points back of Montreal for the division/conference lead.
5. Randy Carlyle, Toronto Maple Leafs
The Leafs are on track for their first playoff berth since 2004 — that alone should put Carlyle in the Jack Adams mix. What’s more impressive is that Joffrey Lupul has been sidelined since the third game of the season and Phil Kessel has yet to hit his stride. Additionally, Nazem Kadri surprisingly leads the team with 23 points and the Leafs are consistently winning games on the road. When Carlyle took over in Anaheim in 2005, the Ducks enjoyed instant success. The same thing seems to be happening in Toronto.
