Who are the front-runners for the Jack Adams Award?
As we get further into the final month of the 2025-26 regular season, we’re starting to get an idea of some of the favorites for the NHL Awards.
One award that has seen quite a bit of debate for is the Jack Adams Award for coach of the year. A number of bench bosses have done their part in guiding their teams to success during the regular season. Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff has been masterful at finally putting the pieces together to make the team a playoff contender. Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper has helped his team overcome several key injuries to stay in contention for first place in the Atlantic Division.
Also, first-year head coach Dan Muse has been crucial in helping an over-the-hill Pittsburgh Penguins get back in the postseason conversation.
On Monday’s edition of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Tyler Yaremchuk and Steve Peters discussed who should be in the running for the Jack Adams Award.
Steve Peters: Lindy Ruff’s a guy I thought was going to get fired immediately after they made the change in the general manager spot and Buffalo, but the tear this team has been on, the way this team has been able to find some unity, and be on top of the Atlantic Division, one of the toughest divisions in hockey right now, I think Lindy Ruff has to be at the top or near the top of the list.
Another guy in the Atlantic is Jon Cooper. Why does your team have to suck and then do better than they’re supposed to be to be in contention for being coach of the year? I don’t understand that. He’s taken a team that was outside looking in and has struggled to find their way back to the top in the Eastern Conference. I think Cooper’s got to be named in that. Then let’s keep it in the East. Dan Muse, what he’s done in Pittsburgh, it’s a team that I thought was going to struggle mightily. They’re doing it right now without Crosby, without Malkin, and they’re still finding themselves second place in the Metro Division.
You can watch the full segment and entire episode here…