Jack Adams Award

Since 1974, the NHL coach of the year has received the Jack Adams Award. The winning coach is selected by a poll of the NHL Broadcasters’ Association. The award is named in memory of Jack Adams, former hockey coach and GM of the Detroit Red Wings.

Jack Adams Award — History

John James “Jack” Adams was born in Ontario in 1894. He played organized hockey from 1917 to 1927, including being on two Stanley Cup championship teams — Toronto Arenas in 1918 and Ottawa Senators in 1927. From there, Adams had a highly successful career with the Detroit Red Wings, winning six Stanley Cups as coach and/or general manager. Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1959, Adams passed away in 1968, when he was still working as founder and president of the Central Hockey League.

Jack Adams Award — Trivia

• Receiving NHL coach of the year honors three times: Pat Burns. Burns won with three different teams — Montreal Canadiens in 1988-89, Toronto Maple Leafs in 1992-93, and Boston Bruins in 1997-98.
• Receiving NHL coach of the year twice: Jacques Demers (who won in consecutive seasons, 1986-87 and 1987-88), Pat Quinn, Scotty Bowman, Jacques Lemaire and John Tortorella.
• Teams winning Jack Adams hockey honors for coaching most frequently: Philadelphia Flyers, Detroit Red Wings and Phoenix Coyotes, with four Jack Adams Award winners each.
• Adams, who was head coach of the Red Wings from 1927-1947, won 964 regular-season games, to lead the franchise. In second place, Mike Babcock recorded 786 regular-season wins in 10 seasons as Red Wings head coach. (Babcock’s winning percentage was .649 versus Adams’ .512.) Scotty Bowman is third in regular-season wins for the Red Wings, with 701 over nine seasons as head coach.

Jack Adams Award — Complete List of Winners

• 2018: Gerard Gallant, Vegas Golden Knights
• 2017: John Tortorella, Columbus Blue Jackets
• 2016: Barry Trotz, Washington Capitals
• 2015: Bob Hartley, Calgary Flames
• 2014: Patrick Roy, Colorado Avalanche
• 2013: Paul MacLean, Ottawa Senators
• 2012: Ken Hitchcock, St. Louis Blues
• 2011: Dan Bylsma, Pittsburgh Penguins
• 2010: Dave Tippett, Phoenix Coyotes
• 2009: Claude Julien, Boston Bruins
• 2008: Bruce Boudreau, Washington Capitals
• 2007: Alain Vigneault, Vancouver Canucks
• 2006: Lindy Ruff, Buffalo Sabres
• 2004: John Tortorella, Tampa Bay Lightning
• 2003: Jacques Lemaire, Minnesota Wild
• 2002: Bob Francis, Phoenix Coyotes
• 2001: Bill Barber, Philadelphia Flyers
• 2000: Joel Quenneville, St. Louis Blues
• 1999: Jacques Martin, Ottawa Senators
• 1998: Pat Burns, Boston Bruins
• 1997: Ted Nolan, Buffalo Sabres
• 1996: Scotty Bowman, Detroit Red Wings
• 1995: Marc Crawford, Quebec Nordiques
• 1994: Jacques Lemaire, New Jersey Devils
• 1993: Pat Burns, Toronto Maple Leafs
• 1992: Pat Quinn, Vancouver Canucks
• 1991: Brian Sutter, St. Louis Blues
• 1990: Bob Murdoch, Winnipeg Jets
• 1989: Pat Burns, Montreal Canadiens
• 1988: Jacques Demers, Detroit Red Wings
• 1987: Jacques Demers, Detroit Red Wings
• 1986: Glen Sather, Edmonton Oilers
• 1985: Mike Keenan, Philadelphia Flyers
• 1984: Bryan Murray, Washington Capitals
• 1983: Orval Tessier, Chicago Blackhawks
• 1982: Tom Watt, Winnipeg Jets
• 1981: Red Berenson, St. Louis Blues
• 1980: Pat Quinn, Philadelphia Flyers
• 1979: Al Arbour, New York Islanders
• 1978: Bobby Kromm, Detroit Red Wings
• 1977: Scotty Bowman, Montreal Canadiens
• 1976: Don Cherry, Boston Bruins
• 1975: Bob Pulford, Los Angeles Kings
• 1974: Fred Shero, Philadelphia Flyers