Jack Adams award

[dash]

is wide open this year in my opinion with several candidates. They usually narrow it down to 3, but I'm gonna list my top 4 coaches (in no particular order):

Guy Boucher (Tampa)
Barry Trotz (Nashville)
Alain Vigneault (Vancouver)
Dan Bylsma (Pittsburgh)

Boucher as a rookie coach has done a hell of a job in Tampa Bay, Trotz just delivers playoff season after playoff season for the Preds, coach Vig delivers a President's Trophy season despite numerous injuries and Bylsma keeps the Pens season on track despite losing two star players and a host of injuries to the supporting cast.

Thoughts?

 

[naslundfan19]

Looks good, dash. Homer alert: AV is my pick. To have given up the fewest goals in the league despite using 13 different defensemen during the season is pretty darn impressive, IMO.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

i dont think its wide open ... Bylsma

 

[ELYEAH82]

I dont see how it isnt Bylsma at this point. Most would have the Pens as a lottery pick after losing Sid, Geno and Staal for over 30 games a piece, not contending for the div and 2nd seed.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

I'd give it to Bylsma. Any team that loses two of the top 5 players in the entire world & is at the 100 point mark has been coached up beyond belief.

 

[esls79]

I voted for Jacques Lemaire

 

[TOX1]

1-Bylsma
2-Vigneault
3-Trotz
4-Lavy
5-Boucher

 

[pixburgher66]

It's hard not to be a homer. I think Bylsma has it even if the Pens don't win the division. Along with the injuries and what not, a lot of the voters got exposed to his demeanor in a new way with 24/7, and it was a good way. If there's one guy who comes away from that series looking awesome, it's Danny B.

 

[dboy97]

Bylsma, I don't think a lottery team with the players they lost but certainly have performed much better than anyone could have imagined with the losses of Crosby, Malkin, and Stall. Man i just puked in my mouth.

 

[BOSSMANPC]

Not saying he should win it but Lindy Ruff gets no mention on any list I've seen. Anywhere!

At one time this year they were 30th in the NHL but since the ASG (or Jan 1st, I can't remember but they mentioned it on Versus) have accumulated more points than any other team in the NHL (I think it's 62) while losing arguably their MVP at the time Derek Roy who was having the best season in his career and on pace to score 25-30 goals with a ton of assist with a season ending injury.

He retooled the style of play and has gotten results.

AGAIN, There are more deserving coaches this year but the fact his name doesn't even get mentioned is a mystery to me.

 

[dash]

Not saying he should win it but Lindy Ruff gets no mention on any list I've seen. Anywhere!

At one time this year they were 30th in the NHL but since the ASG (or Jan 1st, I can't remember but they mentioned it on Versus) have accumulated more points than any other team in the NHL (I think it's 62) while losing arguably their MVP at the time Derek Roy who was having the best season in his career and on pace to score 25-30 goals with a ton of assist with a season ending injury.

He retooled the style of play and has gotten results.

AGAIN, There are more deserving coaches this year but the fact his name doesn't even get mentioned is a mystery to me.

I think Ruff suffers from the "ho-hum" factor Boss due to the fact that he's been around longer than any other coach in the league. I agree with you that he did a fine job guiding the Sabres to the playoffs (yes they'll make it), but there are splashier guys out there that will garner more votes.

You could make the same argument for Mike Babcock in Detroit, the Wings have been hard hit with injuries to key guys, yet Detroit put up another 100+ point season.

 

[BOSSMANPC]

I think Ruff suffers from the "ho-hum" factor Boss due to the fact that he's been around longer than any other coach in the league. I agree with you that he did a fine job guiding the Sabres to the playoffs (yes they'll make it), but there are splashier guys out there that will garner more votes.

You could make the same argument for Mike Babcock in Detroit, the Wings have been hard hit with injuries to key guys, yet Detroit put up another 100+ point season.

Very good point he has done a great job as has DB in Pitt.

 

[sbb122]

Homer alert, Dan Bylsma. The big 3 (Staal, Malkin, and Crosby) appeared in 2 games together this season. Yet they are still a top 5-6 team in the league. He deserves the award.

I also give him credit for calling out Fleury early on in the season when he was struggling. That lit a fire under MAF's ass to prove the coach wrong. Guess it worked...

 

[BOSSMANPC]

Homer alert, Dan Bylsma. The big 3 (Staal, Malkin, and Crosby) appeared in 2 games together this season. Yet they are still a top 5-6 team in the league. He deserves the award.

I also give him credit for calling out Fleury early on in the season when he was struggling. That lit a fire under MAF's ass to prove the coach wrong. Guess it worked...

Not a "Homer alert", Bylsma has done a great job and deserves to be in the mix. I have been very impressed with the work he has done under the circumstances.

 

[evolver115]

In Bylsma's first full season as head coach in 2009-10 he coached his team to a 47-28-7 record for 101 points. This was with the defending Stanley Cup Champs from the prior season that he coached to a 18-3-4 record in 25 games.

In 2010-11, he already has matched last season in wins with a 47-25-8 record, and 102 points, with two games remaining. The makeup of the team from last season to this year has seen a complete 180 in concept. The Penguins went from having a liability when it came to defensive play, to a team strength.

Pittsburgh ranks 7th overall in team GA/G, and leads the league in PK. They also average the 5th least SA/G in the league. And, of course this has all been accomplished while having the teams' highest priced commodities missing at least 30 games, each in Jordan Staal, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.... not to mention a litany of other injuries that include Paul Martin, Chris Kunitz, Brooks Orpik, Zbynek Michalek and Mark Letestu.


Bylsma for The Adams!!!!

 

[dash]

Thanks for all the input thus far, folks. Based on the responses, I guess it's not as wide open a race as I thought. There is no denying Bylsma has done a great job behind the bench for the Pens this season.

 

[evolver115]

Thanks for all the input thus far, folks. Based on the responses, I guess it's not as wide open a race as I thought. There is no denying Bylsma has done a great job behind the bench for the Pens this season.

There are of course more coaches that are deserving... Guy Boucher, and Vigneault are two that come to mind.

I just can't get around the adversity that Bylsma has overcome this season from an injury standpoint in his top players, both offensively and defensively. It wasn't just Sid and Geno. He's had to deal with injury on the blue-line as well, but the Pens are still challenging for the division with two games remaining.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

I really dont get the Guy Boucher love ... 23rd in goals against ... hovering around a zero goal difference ... special teams are above average but isnt that more the asst coaches domain ... I dunno ???

 

[evolver115]

I really dont get the Guy Boucher love ... 23rd in goals against ... hovering around a zero goal difference ... special teams are above average but isnt that more the asst coaches domain ... I dunno ???

valid points. i just look at where they ranked last season to this season. They were the 5th worst team at the end of the 2009-10 season, had a goal differential of -43, and they won fewer than 14 away games.

This season, with a new coach they are the 8th best team in the league according to their record, have a +1 scoring diff, and already have won 20 road games.

Steve Y has a lot to do with their success getting Rolo, but they've come a long way in only one season, imo.

 

[pixburgher66]

I really dont get the Guy Boucher love ... 23rd in goals against ... hovering around a zero goal difference ... special teams are above average but isnt that more the asst coaches domain ... I dunno ???

It's just the turn around from last year. I think that Yzerman has more to do with it, along with underachievement of last year.