Hartley is definitely in the mix - and perhaps the favorite at this point. In addition to the coaches mentioned, I would add Dejardins to the mix as well. He seemed to 'right the ship' in Vancouver, though one could say they are perhaps starting to trend down (or perhaps just a bit of a hiccup).
Flames were probably the lowest rated team heading into the season. If the Flames do make the playoffs, one would figure he would be the most deserving of the Jack Adams. Listening to the different media through the Flames' road trips, the message continues to be the same - Hartley is looked at in an extremely positive light for how he handles the Flames, and how much he actually teaches during practices. At this point, there is probably no one more deserving than Hartley, but the voting will probably come down to which coach makes the playoffs.
|