On Friday, the NHL named the three finalists for the Jack Adams Award: Vancouver’s Rick Tocchet, Winnipeg’s Rick Bowness and Nashville’s Andrew Brunette. Former Blackhawks forward Brunette was the runner-up after the 2021-22 season after taking over for former Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville in Florida.
First awarded in 1973-74, the Jack Adams Award is presented annually “to the coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team’s success.” This award is not voted on by the PHWA; members of the NHL Broadcasters’ Association submit ballots for the Jack Adams Award at the conclusion of the regular season.
In the history of the award, only one Blackhawks head coach has won the award:
Brian Sutter (2001-02) and Quenneville (2012-13) have been the runner-up as the Blackhawks’ head coach.