The NHL has hit the mid-way point of the season and while nothing has been determined yet (of course), there are several coaches who seems to have made quite a difference to their teams so far this year. That bodes the question of which coach is leading the Jack Adams’ race at this point?
Arizona Coyotes head coach Rick Tocchet has needed a couple of years to get the team in a position to take the Coyotes back to the playoffs, but the 2019-20 season seems to be the year that Arizona is likely to make the playoffs. Often considered a bottom-feeder in the Pacific Division, Arizona finds themselves in second place in the Pacific, only behind the Vegas Golden Knights. However, with offensive additions of Phil Kessel and Taylor Hall, as well as the healthy return of Nick Schmaltz, a solid defense and an impressive goaltending tandem of Darcy Kuemper and Antti Raanta, the Coyotes are now for real. Tocchet has had a lot to do with that, putting defense first and now developing an offensive game to compete a solid team.
It might seem unlikely, but the 2018-19 Jack Adams Award winner, Barry Trotz, could win the award for a second straight year. After last season’s impressive run, the New York Islanders were predicted to fall back to mediocrity as many felt that New York wouldn’t be able to surprise teams as easily this year with their impressive season and in a battlefield in the Metropolitan Division, there was no way the Islanders could continue to find themselves at the top of the division. Instead, the Trotz has the Islanders back in the thick of the playoffs in a tie for second place as the team’s offense continues to improve. Only the dominant Washington Capitals stand in their way.
One other significant surprise would be the coaching of Mike Sullivan, who has somehow managed to keep his team in the playoff hunt as they are tied with those Islanders in that second-place tie in the Metro. The Penguins are almost playing on a skeleton roster with the number of injuries, which includes playing large stretches of games without Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jake Guentzel, Patric Hornqvist, Nick Bjugstad, Bryan Rust, Alex Galchenyuk, Kris Letang, Justin Schultz and Brian Dumoulin. Yet regardless, Sullivan had the team playing well even with multiple players from their AHL affiliate in the lineup almost on a daily basis.
There are a number of other top coaches who are doing well as well, including Washington’s Todd Reirden, St. Louis’ Craig Berube, Toronto’s Shelden Keefe and Edmonton’s Dave Tippett.
Of course, it’s still early and much could change, but who is the leading candidate for the Jack Adams?
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Chief Keefe! If the boys can hold out for a win tonight their only 6 points behind Boston, with a 10 game point streak
Totally agree
Holger strikes again. It’s spelled S-H-E-L-D-O-N, not Shelden. In case you doubt, Holger, see: link to hockey-reference.com
Tocc should be in consideration, although @Cedric Lee’s point that the Ky-yoots’ netminding has been quietly stellar is true. Wouldn’t go so far as to demand he gets the boot w/o a playoff berth this year. Maybe after another year, or two, even.
@Vin Scully’s point that Sheldon inherited a superstar-laden roster is true, even though they were being ruined by Babs. Tocc’s roster is the least-impressive, looking at them, overall talent-wise. Can’t agree that Tocc’s the clear winner, though.
Sully’s roster is superstar/star-laden, but they’ve been the 2019-2020 M*A*S*H Unit award winners this year. Massive adversity, but still plugging along. I’d put both Sheldon & Sully at the top, for the time being. Jared Bednar should also be in the discussion, too. Tipp should be removed from the discussion until such time as EDM can shake their D-game amnesia that they suffered. Also can’t forget Barry Trotz, if he can keep the Isles where they’re at in the standings.
Lol Rick tocchet should not be in consideration. This is a guy that used to put Zac Rinaldo on the ice in 6v5 situations when they needed a goal to tie.
Arizona is getting great goaltending like they did last year, gm brought in more talent then added hall. If he still can’t get them in the playoffs he should be fired immediately.
Tocchet is clearly the winner at this point in the season. Keefe inherited a superstar laden roster. Tocchet has the least talented roster of all the candidates.
Sully.
He’s winning games in the best division in hockey with half an AHL team. Plus, making Guentzel, Rust, Jarry into stars and Marino and Pettersson into young top 4 D men.
Runner up- Trotz. People forget what a junk roster that is because he’s done such a good job there.
Mike Sullivan. How he’s been able to keep that duct taped roster near the top of the league is remarkable.
So much for the Penguins having tuned Sullivan out. The guy can coach.
This is what happens when you remove distractions. And dissenters.
Mike Tomlin magically became a better coach after that happened, as well.