On June 17th, the NHL named Rod Brind’Amour as the Jack Adams Award winner, awarded annually to the league’s best coach. Voting for the Jack Adams resides with the NHL Broadcasters’ Association, and this year Brind’Amour takes home the prestigious honours.
Congratulations to 2021 Jack Adams Award winner, Rod Brind’Amour! 👏 #NHLAwards pic.twitter.com/SYNMZJcRJe
— NHL (@NHL) June 17, 2021
Rod Brind’Amour Named 2020-21 Jack Adams Award Winner
Over his three-year NHL coaching career, Rod Brind’Amour has only worked for the Carolina Hurricanes. Fitting, as it’s the team with which he won his sole Stanley Cup Championship during his illustrious playing career. Overall he owns a career coaching record of 120-66-20, reaching a new high this season at 36-12-8. The Jack Adams Award winner surprised no one when he received his nomination. He is arguably the best “player’s coach” in the league today, as not one negative word has seemingly ever reached the press from within his locker room. Players rave about his style and energy, and clearly, he knows what buttons to push.
Despite the team’s overall lack of superstar talent, Carolina has quickly established itself as a hard-working, system-driven team under Brind’Amour. Only Sebastian Aho scored at a point-per-game pace this season, but thanks to sound defensive play and excellent goaltending, the team found a way to win way more often than not. It would come as no surprise to see Brind’Amour receive more nominations for this award for years to come.
Jack Adams Award Winner + the Nominees
While the winner celebrates, the runners-up should not shoulder any disappointment. Ultimately, all three of them could arguably have won the award. Each of their teams all accomplished unexpected feats, beating the overall hockey community’s expectations prior to the 2020-21 season. Rod Brind’Amour and the Hurricanes upset the Lightning to win the Atlantic Division in a tight, season-long three-dog race. Joel Quenneville and the Panthers also finished ahead of Tampa Bay and took a playoff spot no one thought they’d earn, which indirectly pushed the Dallas Stars outside of the playoff picture only a year after they went to the Stanley Cup Final. And, similarly, Dean Evason and the Wild surprised everyone by surging in the West Division and quickly transforming their roster into one that now looks like an annual contender.
All of those represent great development for their respective franchises. And all of those reflect fantastically on the bench bosses.
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
