NHL announces Jack Adams Finalists

The NHL has announced Jared Bednar of the Colorado Avalanche, Bruce Cassidy of the Boston Bruins and Gerard Gallant of the Vegas Golden Knights as the finalists for the Jack Adams Award.

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The award is presented annually by the NHL Broadcasters’ Association to the NHL coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team’s success. The winner is selected in a poll among members of the NHL Broadcasters’ Association at the end of the regular season.

After the Avalanche finished with the worst full-season record since 2005-06 in his first year as team coach, Bednar helped Colorado improve by 47 points in the standings in 2017-18 and clinch a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

In Cassidy’s first full season as head coach of the Bruins, the team finished with 112 points – fourth most in the NHL. Boston relied heavily on their rookies and younger players in 2017-18, silencing doubters who thought the team was due for a regression.

Gallant was part of the sensational debut season for the Golden Knights, coaching the team to a 51-24-7 record. Vegas shocked the hockey world with a first-place Pacific Division finish in its expansion season.

John Tortorella of the Columbus Blue Jackets won the award in 2017. The 2018 NHL Awards are taking place on June 20 in Las Vegas.