The Three Finalist for Jack Adams Award for Coach of the Year Named

The National Hockey League announced the nominees for the Jack Adams Award for Coach of the Year on Thursday. 

The award given to the coach that contributed the most to his team’s success during the season, will be presented to one of the three top vote getters at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, in Las Vegas, Nevada, during the 2016 NHL Awards on June 22. Those nominees are from the Florida Panthers, Gerard Gallant, Dallas Stars, Lindy Ruff and Washington Capitals, Barry Trotz. 

Gallant led the Panthers to an Atlantic Division title with a record of 47-26-9 for 103 points during the 2015-2016 season. The Panthers set franchise records for wins and points during the season, in Gallant’s second season behind the bench. 

During the season, the Cats had a franchise record 12 game winning streak between December 15 and January 10. The streak included a record home win streak from December 10 through January 3, as well as record six game road win streak between the same time period. 

The Panthers improved from a year ago, racking up nine more wins and 12 more points from the 2014-2015 season. This will be Gallant’s first time as a nominee for the award.

Ruff guided the Stars to a 50-23-9 record for 109 points for the Central Division and Western Conference title during the past season. His third season as the bench boss for the Stars, was the team’s first division title since the 2005-2006 season and first conference title since 2002-2003. 

This past season the Stars finished with the second best record in the league, only the Capitals had more overall points in the standings. 

The Stars scored a league leading 265 goals during the 2015-2016 season, while having the third best goal differential with a plus 37. Dallas broke the 50-win mark for a season, for the first time since 2006-2007. Ruff is a third time finalist, having won the award back in 2006 with the Buffalo Sabres. 

Trotz led the Capitals to the President’s Trophy with the best overall record during the regular season. The Capitals finished up the 2015-2016 campaign with a 56-18-8 record for 120 points, setting franchise records for wins and road wins (27). 

The Caps were second in the league in scoring, averaging 3.02 goals per game, and defense with 2.33 goals against. They had the fifth best power play at 21.9 percent and second best penalty kill of 85.2 percent.  

This will be third nomination for Trotz.