The 2022-23 National Hockey League regular season will wrap up this weekend. With the Stanley Cup Playoffs looming on the horizon, this is the time of year when the league announces its awards candidates. We all know certain players will win certain awards (yeah, Connor McDavid is gonna sweep all the scoring awards), but what about the coaches? The NHL will release its candidates soon, but if we’re honest, these head coaches would be the Jack Adams Trophy Candidates.
Dave Hakstol
The first of the if-we’re-honest Jack Adams Trophy candidates is Seattle Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol.
Ah, the apoplexy displayed in June 2021 when the Kraken announced former Philadelphia Flyers head coach Dave Hakstol as head coach. Their inaugural season didn’t match the success of Vegas’ inaugural season in 2017. However, management was patient and with a few signings in the right positions (including Andre Burakovsky), Hakstol helped turn around the Kraken with a 20-win turnaround. The Kraken have been one of the most pleasant surprises of the 2022-23 season. Hakstol has guided the team into a Wild Card spot in his second season as coach and he deserves Adams Trophy consideration.
(And everyone who hated the Hakstol hire owes them an apology.)
Lindy Ruff
The second of the if-we’re-honest Jack Adams Trophy candidates is New Jersey Devils head coach Lindy Ruff.
Last season, the New Jersey Devils were a mess. They would go up early in games, but surrender leads late. This had me and other Devils fans wondering if it was time for a change. A slow start to this season led to chants of “Fire Lindy” to echo through the halls of the Prudential Center. But from mid-October through mid-November, the Devils rode a 13-game winning streak. Chants at The Rock changed to “Sorry, Lindy.” By season’s end, the Devils set an NHL record with a 49-point improvement from the previous season. Ruff hung in there from the onset and helped the young Devils to a huge turnaround and that’s Adams Trophy consideration worthy.
You may accuse me of recency bias for these next two candidates, but hear me out.
Jay Woodcroft
The third of the if-we’re-honest Jack Adams Trophy candidates is Edmonton Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft.
Expectations were lofty in the City of Champions after last season’s playoff run. However, the Edmonton Oilers seemed to be on the struggle bus on a one-way trip to missing this year’s playoffs. By February, they were just above water in the Wild Card race. Then came March and things turned around. The team got healthy, they added some pieces before the trade deadline, and goaltending steadied. The Oilers finished with a 12-2-1 record in March. Credit much of this turnaround to Woodcroft adjusting with new and returning players to the lineup. He’s also put his trust in rookie goaltender Stuart Skinner. Woodcroft is worthy of Adams Trophy consideration.
Paul Maurice
The last of the if-we’re-honest Jack Adams Trophy candidates is Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice.
Following his resignation from the Winnipeg Jets in December 2021, it was unclear where Maurice’s coaching future lay. After the coaching chaos from the previous season, the Panthers took a chance and hired the longtime NHL coach in June 2022. It took a while for last season’s President’s Trophy winners to gel and the Panthers were out playoff contention through February. Following the All-Star break, the Panthers went 18-10-1. Maurice sold the team on his coaching style, and they clinched a Wild Card berth on Tuesday. He helped bring the Cats back from the brink and that should give him a nod for Adams Trophy consideration.
(Besides, it would have been a shame for Radko Gudas’ playoff-ready beard to have been wasted.)
"We had hard games and hard losses. They handled the adversity, and they survived. They built a team out of themselves through it."@JamesonCoop has the notes & quotes from today's practice! » https://t.co/XcfggPnloR pic.twitter.com/miPvLuHAEm
— x – Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) April 12, 2023
