Advertisement

Bob Hartley, Peter Laviolette, Alain Vigneault voted finalists for Jack Adams Award

Bob Hartley, Peter Laviolette, Alain Vigneault voted finalists for Jack Adams Award

Bob Hartley of the Calgary Flames, Peter Laviolette of the Nashville Predators and Alain Vigneault of the New York Rangers are the finalists for the 2014-15 Jack Adams Award, given to the head coach who "contributed the most to his team's success," as voted by the NHL Broadcasters' Association, the National Hockey League announced Wednesday.

Before we talk about the awesomeness of the finalists, let’s go over those who got snubbed.

Barry Trotz turned the Washington Capitals into a structured two-way outfit. Paul Maurice guided the Winnipeg Jets through multiple distractions and a decimated blueline to help them to their first playoff appearance in Winnipeg. Tampa’s Jon Cooper is just awesome in general … but had to deal with some defensive injuries as well and came within two points of an Atlantic Division crown. Detroit’s Mike Babcock took a team that didn’t have a playoff roster and took it to the postseason – again. Willie Desjardins with Vancouver lost his starting goaltender and also made the postseason with a very ‘meh’ roster. Ottawa’s Dave Cameron has the same name as the Prime Minister of England … and helped spur his team on a comeback down the stretch to make the playoffs with another roster that didn’t look great.

So really, this was the year of the coach. All the finalists were worthy but there were so many others. It was a tough choice for #thebroadcasters.

This award often goes to the coach who creates the biggest turnaround – but does that equal the best coach? Who knows.

Here are the finalists …

Why Bob Hartley Deserves The Adams

From the NHL:

Hartley led the Flames (45-30-7, 97 points) to a 20-point gain in standings points over 2013-14, the highest jump among Western Conference teams and third-highest in the League overall, in capturing their first playoff berth since 2009. Calgary was among the NHL's best late-game teams, tying for first place in overtime wins (nine), ranking second in third-period goal differential (+31), third in wins when trailing after two periods (10) and fifth in points percentage when leading after 40 minutes (.923, 24-1-1). The Flames also recorded 1,557 blocked shots, tops in the League and the highest single-season total since the statistic was introduced. Hartley is a first-time Jack Adams Award finalist. If you’re looking for a position player, it’s hard to compete with a guy who led the NHL in scoring. That’s the definition of outstanding.

But their advanced stats were terrible!!! So what, they did win games. And whatever buttons dude pushed, they were right. The Flames thoroughly outplayed the Kings in an April playoff clinching contest – the Kings who were advanced stat monsters. Also, he has helped bring along Sean Monahan, turning him into one of the best young two-way centers in hockey.

Why Peter Laviolette Deserves The Adams

From the NHL:

The Predators showed gains across the board in Laviolette's first season in Nashville. The team’s 47 wins and 104 points were up nine and 16, respectively, over the corresponding figures from 2013-14 as the club qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2012. The Predators were dramatically improved on home ice, posting a 28-9-4 mark at Bridgestone Arena after going 19-17-5 there in 2013-14. The team’s goal differential at 5-on-5 went from -21 to +35 and their performance inside the Central Division improved from 12-13-4 to 15-9-5. Laviolette is a Jack Adams Award finalist for the second time, having finished second in voting with Carolina in 2005-06.

Laviolette’s up-tempo offensive system kept teams off guard early in the season and enabled the Predators to pile up point totals through February. He helped turn young forward Filip Forsberg into a budding star. Also, forwards Colin Wilson and Craig Smith had career years with Laviolette at the helm. Much of his success could be related to a healthy Pekka Rinne, who when he fell off, so did Nashville. But Laviolette was the new voice the Predators needed.

Why Alain Vigneault Deserves The Adams

From the NHL:

Vigneault guided the Rangers (53-22-7, 113 points) to the Presidents' Trophy as the NHL's top regular-season club, establishing franchise records for wins and points. The Rangers also led the NHL and set club records for road wins (28) and points (58) – only the 2005-06 Red Wings have won more games as visitors in a season. New York was dominant at both ends of the ice, ranking third League-wide in both offense (3.02 goals scored per game) and defense (2.28 goals allowed per game). Vigneault is a Jack Adams Award finalist for the fourth time, tying St. Louis' Ken Hitchcock for the most among active head coaches. He won the trophy in 2006-07 with Vancouver and finished runner-up with Montreal in 1999-2000 and Vancouver in 2010-11.

Vigneault may have had the toughest job of all the coaches. The Rangers lost the previous Stanley Cup Final in disappointing fashion. He helped the team channel this anger and led New York to the best record in the NHL. There was no Cup hangover for the Rangers, and much could be contributed to Vigneault’s style.

Who Wins The Adams Award

Hartley

The Flames turnaround was so steep and so unexpected that Hartley will likely be rewarded. Voting is completed prior to the end of the regular season, and Calgary’s April push was impressive.

Our Top Choice

Laviolette

Too many Predators players had career years, likely because of Laviolette. They swooned down the stretch, but that roster was really not all that great. His 1-2 punch at center was Mike Ribeiro and Mike Fisher … and that team challenged for the top record in the NHL for most of the season.

- - - - - - -

Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

MORE FROM YAHOO HOCKEY