Jack Adams Award

Lore & Background

Five coaches have won the award twice, while Pat Burns has won three times, the most of any coach. The award is named in honor of Jack Adams, Hall of Fame player for the Toronto Arenas/St. Patricks, Vancouver Millionaires and original Ottawa Senators, and long-time Coach and General Manager of the Detroit Red Wings. It was first awarded at the conclusion of the regular season. Jacques Demers is the only coach to win the award in consecutive seasons. Five coaches have won the award with two teams: Jacques Lemaire, Pat Quinn, Scotty Bowman, Barry Trotz, and John Tortorella have won the award twice. Pat Burns is the only coach to win the Adams Award three times, as well as the only coach to win it with three different teams. The franchises with the most Jack Adams Award winners are the Washington Capitals, Philadelphia Flyers, Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins and Phoenix Coyotes with four winners each, although the Coyotes had two winners in Winnipeg before they moved to Arizona. Bill Barber, Bruce Boudreau and Ken Hitchcock are the only coaches to win the award after replacing the head coach who started the season. Barber took over for Craig Ramsay during the Flyers' 2000–01 season, Boudreau replaced Glen Hanlon a month into the Capitals' 2007–08 season while Hitchcock replaced Davis Payne a month into the Blues' 2011–12 season. The closest vote occurred in , when the winner Lindy Ruff edged out Peter Laviolette by a single point.

In Their Own Story

The arena air hung heavy with the sharp scent of Zamboni exhaust and electric tension. Scotty Bowman stood motionless behind the glass, his clipboard tucked firmly under an arm that had guided a dozen champions to glory. He didn't scan the press box for the gleaming trophy; his eyes were locked on the ice. To him, the Jack Adams Award was just paper. He adjusted his glasses, watching his players execute a set piece with military precision. In that heartbeat amidst the roar of the Bell Centre, he knew no plaque could ever capture the weight of what they had built together.

Reader's Guide

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Did You Know?

• Pat Burns has won the Jack Adams Award three times, the most of any coach.
• Jacques Demers is the only coach to win the award in consecutive seasons.
• Pat Burns is the only coach to win the award with three different teams.
• The winner is selected by a poll of the National Hockey League Broadcasters Association.