*Photo from the Seattle Times*
The NHL has released the finalists for this year's Jack Adams award, given annually to the best coach in the NHL. This year, Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour, Minnesota Wild head coach Dean Evason, and Florida Panthers head coach Joel Quenneville are the 3 finalists for the award.
This year's group of finalists ensures there will not be a repeat champion, as Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy was the recipient of the award for the 2019-2020 season. The last 5 years, Cassidy, Barry Trotz twice, Gerard Gallant, and John Tortorella have all won the award. Trotz won it in 2016 as head coach of the Washington Captials, and in 2019 as head coach of the New York Islanders.
Brind'Amour has been a fresh face to lead the Hurricanes since he was hired, and this season was among the team's best years. Brind'Amour has led Carolina to 3 straight playoff appearances, plus this season's Central Division title, with a 36-12-8 record, which was just two points away from a share of the league lead in total points this season. This is the first season Brind'Amour has been a finalist for the award.
Evason guided the Wild to a surprisingly great regular season in his first full season behind the bench, after serving as interim head coach last season. The Wild finished 3rd place in the West Division this year, with a 35-16-5 record, just a few points away from the top two teams in the division. This is the first season Evason has been a finalist for the award.
Quenneville has been the big name coach that has helped guide the long downtrodden Panthers to respectability and playoff contention. They had one of the best seasons in team history, with a 37-14-5 record, and finished just one point behind the Hurricanes for the Central Division title. Quenneville is vying for his second award win, previously winning as head coach of the St.Louis Blues in the 1999-2000 season.
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