The NHL continues to release the finalists for their major regular season award, this time naming the three men that are in contention for the Jack Adams Award, presented to the coach who has “contributed the most to his team’s success.” Last year’s winner was Bruce Cassidy of the Boston Bruins, but we’ll have a new name to engrave this time around.
The finalists for the 2020-21 season are Joel Quenneville of the Florida Panthers, Dean Evason of the Minnesota Wild and Rod Brind’Amour of the Carolina Hurricanes.
Quenneville, 62, certainly isn’t unfamiliar with the trophy but hasn’t held it in quite some time. The veteran NHL coach took home the award in 2000 with the St. Louis Blues and was the runner-up in 2013 with the Chicago Blackhawks. Just two finalist appearances is surprising for a man who is quickly closing in on 1,000 career wins. Quenneville sits second all-time behind only Scotty Bowman in the coaching ranks with 962 regular season wins and won the Stanley Cup three times in Chicago. He would be the Panthers’ first Jack Adams winner if he takes it home following the 37-14-5 season the team registered in 2020-21.
Evason will try to stand in his way despite having less than 82 games under his belt as an NHL head coach. The 56-year-old replaced Bruce Boudreau last season and now has a .669 winning percentage in his 68 games behind the Minnesota bench. While the addition of Kirill Kaprizov certainly helped, Evason turned the Wild into an exciting, competitive team that took the Vegas Golden Knights to seven games in the first round. Evason is only signed through next season but has quickly proven his worth as the answer in Minnesota.
Speaking of contracts, that’s all the buzz around Brind’Amour these days, even as he receives a nomination for the Jack Adams. The Hurricanes head coach isn’t signed for next season and this award is just another indication of how well he has done in his short tenure behind the Carolina bench. Since taking over in 2018, the Hurricanes have gone 120-66-20 in the regular season reached the playoffs all three years and the Conference Finals once. The 50-year-old is off to an outstanding start with his young group in Carolina and could be considered the favorite for this award.
All 3 coaches are very derseving but what Evason was able to do with the Wild was shocking. No one had them making any noise. Especially me. That whole franchise deserves a pat on the back for their performance this season. Good for them.
Ron Francis on Line 1, coach Brind’amour, Jack Adams winner . . . Cheapskate owner/GM on Line 2 with a 50% Raleigh discount.
line 3, some idiot named urban shocker
Again, cheap because they didn’t bring the play by play guy back? Look at their payroll. Certainly not cheap. Highest in the history of the organization.
Uhh Mike Sullivan anyone….
Wild made it father than the Avs did against Vegas
Playoffs don’t matter
Ik it’s just a crazy stat
All former members of the Whalers / Hurricanes franchise.
Ron Francis is bringing Brind’amour to Seattle.
and ur mom to bed l0l
Everyone knew Carolina would be good, but the Panthers and Wild not so much. Between Q and Dean for the trophy.