How Paul MacLean won the 2013 Jack Adams Trophy
In his second consecutive year as a Jack Adams nominee, Ottawa Senators' head coach Paul MacLean has taken home the award for "the NHL coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success," as voted on by the illustrious members of the NHL Broadcasters’ Association (a.k.a the NBA).
MacLean beat out co-nominees Bruce Boudreau and Joel Quenneville, the latter of whom will have to settle for the Mike Babcock award, which unofficially goes to "the NHL coach adjudged to have a team too good to win the Jack Adams".
So what did MacLean do to come away with coach of the year honours? As per the NHL:
MacLean guided the Senators (25-17-6) to a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs despite the extended absence of several key players due to injury. Defenseman Erik Karlsson, the reigning Norris Trophy winner, was limited to 17 games; defenseman Jared Cowen, the ninth overall pick in the 2009 NHL Draft, was sidelined for all but seven games; top forwards Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek played in just five and 23 contests, respectively; and starting goaltender Craig Anderson appeared in just 24 games. MacLean led a youthful Senators lineup, which included a League-high 14 rookies making at least one appearance, to the top defensive record in the Eastern Conference (2.08 goals-against per game).
In other words, he took a team that was stripped of its stars due to injury, and still managed to get them into the playoffs. Since the Jack Adams has effectively become an award for coaches that have more success than we can reasonably explain, given their roster, that'll do it.
Here's how the Walrus won the day:
It really was a two-horse race, although it's interesting to note that Therrien actually had more first-place votes than Boudreau, the third nominee.
And yes, that is Randy Carlyle in seventh place, with three first-place votes. Identify yourself, three insane voting members.
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