The 2023 finalists for the Jack Adams Award, presented to the coach who has “contributed the most to his team’s success” and voted on by the NHL Broadcasters Association, were announced tonight.
The finalists are Dave Hakstol of the Seattle Kraken, Lindy Ruff of the New Jersey Devils, and Jim Montgomery of the Boston Bruins.
Of the three finalists, only Ruff has already won the award earlier in his career. Ruff won it in 2006 on the back of an impressive 52-win campaign. In his third season as the Devils’ bench boss, Ruff has guided a young team out of their rebuilding phase and into Stanley Cup contention. Under his guidance, Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier have emerged as superstar talents and the Devils won their first playoff series since their 2011-12 run to the Stanley Cup Final.
Hakstol, a longtime college hockey coach at the University of North Dakota, is a finalist thanks to a stellar second season behind the bench of the expansion Seattle Kraken.
While Seattle did not enjoy the type of instant success the Vegas Golden Knights had in their first season, 2022-23 has been more kind to Hakstol’s squad.
The former Philadelphia Flyers coach has overseen the rise of one of the NHL’s deepest teams and led them to an upset victory over the defending Stanley Cup champions in their first-ever playoff series.
New York Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant won the Jack Adams for his work managing the expansion Vegas Golden Knights, and one of the most important factors leading to his win was to just how many players reached new heights in their careers with Gallant as head coach.
Hakstol has overseen similar career elevations in Seattle, with players such as Jared McCann, Vince Dunn, Daniel Sprong, and Eeli Tolvanen authoring career-best years in 2022-23. Now, with a chance to win a Stanley Cup for Seattle, Hakstol has a chance to take home some individual hardware as well.
Although Ruff and Hakstol are both exceptionally qualified candidates for the award, the favorite has to be Montgomery, the Bruins’ head coach. Despite the disappointment of the Bruins’ first-round playoff exit, Montgomery’s work with the Bruins is undeniably worthy of recognition. He managed the veteran team to the winningest regular season in NHL history, breaking numerous records en route to the Presidents’ Trophy.
Making that success even more impressive is the fact that this year was Montgomery’s first behind the bench in Boston. He took on the challenge of filling 2020 Jack Adams Award winner Bruce Cassidy’s shoes and delivered an all-time great regular season.
Although a Stanley Cup would undoubtedly have been the more desirable reward for his efforts this season, Montgomery nonetheless is in a prime position to take home one of the highest individual honors an NHL coach can receive.
Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
All great candidates. Seattle had no business being this good and plays a great team game with a plan.
Jersey is solid and Ruff is getting the best from his players who are still young.
Boston has the best record of all time with an aging core still able to pull it together.
No they didn’t. Montreal canadiens had the best record ever in 1978. 60-8-12 when there was no overtime and no 3 point games.
Hakstol is a stiff any winning team with him wins in spite of him.
Going to be hilarious when Montgomery wins this. Worst collapse I have ever seen in sports history short of the 04 Yankees
No nomination for Dallas Eakins?
All solid choices but Montgomery did not lead Boston to the best regular season in history. Montreal in 78 were 60-8-12 in an era where there were no overtime games if tied at regulation.
Habs also lead the league in goals allowed the fewest and had the best plus minus in history.
Chill
Of course you have the wrong team. It was the 76-77 Canadiens who had that record. If you are going to argue your case, and as a life long Bruin fan you do have a valid point, at least get the right team.
But Boston has more points now so despite your attempts to ensure we heard you twice, they have more points
both sides could be argued. However, more points is more points.
Montgomery will win the award, but Hakstol would be my pick. He gets the most out of a slightly above average roster.