Coaches rarely get as much credit as the best players, but for many teams without the leadership and acumen of a great bench boss, they dwell in the basement of the standings and do not battle for a spot in the playoffs or a Stanley Cup.
Odds on the winner of the Jack Adams Award for best NHL head coach are available for betting in Canada. The odds below are as of May 23, 2022, but are subject to change.
| Jack Adams Winner |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rod Brind’Amour | 1.40 | 1.40 | 1.40 |
| Peter DeBoer | 5.00 | 5.00 | 5.00 |
| Joel Quenneville | 6.00 | 6.00 | 6.00 |
| Jared Bednar | 7.00 | 7.00 | 7.00 |
| Barry Trotz | 13.00 | 13.00 | 13.00 |
Who is the Favourite to Win the 2022 Jack Adams Trophy
After leading the Carolina Hurricanes in 2021, head coach Rod Brind’Amour leads everyone with the NHL’s best coach odds to take home the trophy. It is his fourth year as the head coach of the Hurricanes – and 2021 is his best result thus far from behind the bench.
The Hurricanes point percentage of .714 is the highest in the franchise’s history – topping the previous best mark of .683 from their 2005-06 Stanley Cup-winning season. They are again Stanley Cup contenders this season.
Brind’Amour’s biggest competition for the award comes from Florida Panthers head coach Joel Quenneville. Quenneville had his club ended the year as one of the biggest overachievers, finishing about 20 points above their preseason point over/under. Like Brind’Amour, he helped the Panther end the year with a franchise-best points percentage at .705.
Quenneville has won the Jack Adams Award once in his career – surprisingly not with the Chicago Blackhawks but as the head coach of the St. Louis Blues. Quenneville coaching also helps Alexsander Barkov become a Lady Byng Trophy Candidate again in 2022.
We like Quenneville to win the award as his team had one more win than Carolina, despite finishing one point behind them in the standings.
The finalist for the award will be announced during the playoffs.
Who was the Preseason Favourite to Win the Jack Adams Trophy
There was not much of a consensus before the season at online sportsbooks who the favourite to win the 2022 Jack Adams Trophy – and not often does the preseason favourite take home the trophy. Barry Trotz and Jared Bednar were popular choices (along with Rod Brind’Amour) to start the season.
Both guys are in the mix at the end of the season after Bednar led Colorado to the President’s Trophy and Trotz helped the Islanders reach the postseason and allow the second-fewest goals in the NHL.
Betting on the Best Head Coach in the NHL
Picking the winner of this award is all about team success versus team expectations.
The biggest win in history came in 2018 by Gerard Gallant. Expectations were low for the head coach of the Vegas Golden Knights in their augural season. However, Golden Knight became the first expansion team (in the big four sports) to win their division, thanks to 51 wins and 109 points. Gallant success leading the Golden Knights garnered him 102 of 108 first-place votes.
The closest Jack Adams vote in NHL history came in 2006. Lindy Ruff (head coach of the Buffalo Sabres) edged out Peter Laviolette (head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes) for the trophy. Both teams missed the postseason in 2004, then in the year following the NHL lockout, finished with the second and third most points in the Eastern Conference.
When going to bet on this award to start the year, look for the coach you expect to exceed expectations the most. Throughout the season and at the end of the year, look for the bench boss getting the most out of his squad.
Where does the Trophy Get its Name?
The Jack Adams Trophy is named after former player, coach, and general manager John James “Jack” Adams. Adams had a 10-year playing career with Toronto, Vancouver, and Ottawa during the 1910s and 1920s before retiring and moving into coaching and management.
Adams spent his entire head coaching and managing career with Detroit. As head coach and general manager, Adams won three Stanley Cups and four more Stanley Cups as only general manager.
Adams is the only player/person in NHL history to win a Stanley Cup as a player, head coach, and general manager. Adams died in 1968, and the award was created and named after him posthumously in 1974.
Recent Winners of the Jack Adams Trophy
- 2021 – Rod Brind’Amour, Carolina Hurricanes
- 2020 – Bruce Cassidy, Boston Bruins
- 2019 – Barry Trotz, New York Islanders
- 2018 – Gerard Gallant, Vegas Golden Knights
- 2017 – John Tortorella., Columbus Blue Jackets
- 2016 – Barry Trotz, Washington Capitals
- 2015 – Bob Hartley, Calgary Flames
- 2014 – Patrick Roy, Colorado Avalanche
- 2013 – Paul MacLean, Ottawa Senators
- 2012 – Ken Hitchcock, St. Louis Blues
- 2011 – Dan Bylsma, Pittsburgh Penguins
- 2010 – Dave Tippett, Phoenix Coyotes
Jack Adams Trophy Stats
- Pat Burns is the only coach to win the award three times in his career.
- Pat Burns is the only coach to win the award with three different teams
- Fred Shero won the first Jack Adams Trophy as the coach of the Philadelphia Flyers in 1973-74
- The Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, Detroit Red Wings, and St. Louis Blues have the most Jack Adams winners with four each.
- The Jack Adams Award is voted on by over 100 NHL broadcasters each year.
Coaches rarely get as much credit as the best players, but for many teams without the leadership and acumen of a great bench boss, they dwell in the basement of the standings and not battling for a spot in the playoffs or a Stanley Cup.
Odds on the winner of the Jack Adams Award for best NHL head coach are available for betting in Canada. The odds below are as of May 23, 2022, but are subject to change.
| Jack Adams Winner |  | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rod Brind’Amour | 1.40 | 1.40 | 1.40 |
| Peter DeBoer | 5.00 | 5.00 | 5.00 |
| Joel Quenneville | 6.00 | 6.00 | 6.00 |
| Jared Bednar | 7.00 | 7.00 | 7.00 |
| Barry Trotz | 13.00 | 13.00 | 13.00 |
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
Jack Adams Trophy Betting FAQs
Yes, you can bet on the winner of the Jack Adams Trophy from the preseason into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Odds on the winner are found in the NHL Futures or NHL Props section of a sportsbook.
The first Jack Adams Trophy was awarded in 1974 to head coach Fred Shero.
Yes, seven coaches have won the award on multiple occasions. Pat Burns is the only head coach to win the award three times.
Only Jacques Demers has won the Jack Adams Award in back-to-back years, doing so as the head coach of the Detroit Red Wings in 1987 and 1988.
The Jack Adams Trophy is handed out after the Stanley Cup Finals, with the finalists for the award announced during the playoffs.
Other important NHL awards including the Hart Trophy, the Art Ross Trophy, the Rocket Richard Trophy, the Vezina Trophy, the Selke Award, the Lady Byng Trophy, the Norris Trophy, and the Calder Trophy.
