Jets’ Scott Arniel named finalist for Jack Adams Award as coach of the year

Scott Arniel, Martin St. Louis, and Spencer Carbery have emerged as the top contenders for the prestigious Jack Adams Award, which recognizes the NHL’s top head coach. The NHL Broadcasters’ Association conducted a vote to determine the finalists, with the winners set to be announced soon.

Arniel, at 62 years old, made a remarkable impact in his first season as the head coach of the Winnipeg Jets. Under his leadership, the Jets finished at the top of the overall standings with a record of 56-22-4, accumulating 116 points and clinching their first-ever Presidents’ Trophy. Arniel’s achievements include setting a record for the most wins by a head coach in their first season with a team, joining the likes of Jim Montgomery, Mike Babcock, and Tom Johnson. The Jets also made history by winning 15 of their first 16 games, with Arniel becoming the first coach to win each of his first eight games with a club. Additionally, the team went on an impressive 11-game winning streak later in the season.

Martin St. Louis guided the Montreal Canadiens to a successful season, securing a post-season berth for the first time since 2020-21 and achieving their best overall record since 2018-19. In his third full season as head coach, St. Louis has been instrumental in the Canadiens’ resurgence. He is aiming to follow in the footsteps of past Montreal Adams award winners like Scotty Bowman and Pat Burns.

Spencer Carbery of the Washington Capitals is also in the running for the Jack Adams Award after leading his team to second place in the NHL’s overall standings with a record of 51-22-9 and 111 points. In his second season as head coach, Carbery guided the Capitals to the top seed in the Eastern Conference for the first time since 2016-17. If successful, Carbery will join the ranks of previous Washington Adams award winners like Bryan Murray, Bruce Boudreau, and Barry Trotz.

The finalists for the Jack Adams Award represent a diverse range of coaching styles and achievements in the NHL. The winner will be announced soon, and fans are eagerly anticipating the outcome. Stay tuned to see who will be crowned the NHL’s top head coach for the season.