[News] 2014/2015 Jack Adams Finalists: Hartley, Laviolette & Vigneault

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by nik-

Coach in the finals last year gets nominated for coach of the year for making the playoffs?

And in fairness, it's not "most improved coach" or "coach that improved team the most" award, it's simply the best coach award.

[Muta]

A team that was supposed to be a contender for the McDavid / Eichel sweepstakes is now almost close to contending for the Cup, all within eight months.

How exactly does Hartley not win this?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

And in fairness, it's not "most improved coach" or "coach that improved team the most" award, it's simply the best coach award.

Problem is, it's almost always the coach of the overachiever who wins the prize (and then the team often then regresses and that coach gets fired).

Poor old Badger Bob was ripped off because his teams were so good IMO.

[sharkov]

This is salt to the wound of John Tortorella

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by sharkov

This is salt to the wound of John Tortorella

No kidding. His replacement and arch nemesis lol

[KootenayFlamesFan]

I'm assuming Hartley will win it, but those are solid choices. The Flames run this season to the playoffs was so unexpected and out of nowhere that I think it gives him the slight edge.

[Zach]

Hartley looks like a lock to win this.

[FlamesAddiction]

I haven't done any research of past award winners to validate this theory, but I can't help but think that Vigneault being the sole Eastern finalist gives him an edge as the broadcasters with more Western exposure would have been more likely to split their votes between Hartley and Laviolette.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Muta

A team that was supposed to be a contender for the McDavid / Eichel sweepstakes is now almost close to contending for the Cup, all within eight months.

How exactly does Hartley not win this?

I believe it is voted for before playoffs start. So the point of reference at the time of the vote is the team having made the post season

[thymebalm]

Vigneault vs Hartley in my opinion. Hartley has won everywhere he's gone which says something about him as a coach, but Vigneault is a master bench boss. New York didn't just have a good season, they won the presidents trophy in record setting fashion.

Sort of one of those things where it's an honour to be nominated and if you lose to Vingeault the sting is not so bad.

[PugnaciousIntern]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I haven't done any research of past award winners to validate this theory, but I can't help but think that Vigneault being the sole Eastern finalist gives him an edge as the broadcasters with more Western exposure would have been more likely to split their votes between Hartley and Laviolette.

If they all just had one vote, possibly, but they get 5 votes each which they rank (1st = 10 points, 2nd = 8 points, or something to that extent) so the highest 'point-getter' wins the award. It's set up that was to help null the effect of splitting votes.

[Huntingwhale]

Vigneault - Took a stacked Rangers team to the cup final last year. Was fully expected to be a contender this season. Lived up to expectations.

Laviolette - Took a team with a stacked D corps and expected to contend for a division title and make the playoffs. Did as was expected.

Hartley - Took a team that finished 4th last from last season to a 20pts improvement to make the playoffs for the first time in 6 years. A team that was fully EXPECTED to contend for Mcdavid with bottom feeders like Edmonton and Buffalo. A team that was unanimously said by 'experts' worldwide to just plain suck. A team of misfits and rookies. Instead, drags them to the playoffs and they win a round. Comeback after comeback all season long. Expectations are completely blown out of the water.

I'm sorry, but if Hartley loses out, that is a travesty and I will be pissed. NO ONE took a team with less and helped them achieve more then Hartley. No one. Contrary to what I've read here, it's really not that close. This is Bob's trophy to lose. He better damn well win it.

[expatflame]

Dumb question but is it based solely on regular season performance or does playoff performance count?

[hockey.modern]

Originally Posted by expatflame

Dumb question but is it based solely on regular season performance or does playoff performance count?

Regular season only. Post season does not have an affect whatsoever

[Darkwater]

Hartley... is Jesus.

[Scrambler]

Originally Posted by thymebalm

Vigneault vs Hartley in my opinion. Hartley has won everywhere he's gone which says something about him as a coach, but Vigneault is a master bench boss. New York didn't just have a good season, they won the presidents trophy in record setting fashion.

Sort of one of those things where it's an honour to be nominated and if you lose to Vingeault the sting is not so bad.

Plus a large part of that record setting pace was without Lundqvist in net.

I would still say Hartley is the winner but Vigneault getting nominated does make sense.

Perhaps no Maurice since Jets were so undisciplined in the first half of the season?

[driveway]

Vigneault's success over the last 5 years is really quite something: three President's Trophies and two appearances in the SCF with two different teams.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

Its more so the fact he has an established winning roster, Maurice had to deal with some pretty tough times with injuries and player drama but still produced a playoff team.

I'd pick him over Vigneault IMO.

Vigneault missed Lundqvist for about 2 months(Feb 4-Mar 28), which in my opinion is the equivalent of us losing Gio. Boyle only played 65 games as well, so I can definitely see a case being made.

Also, setting franchise records for wins and points is not as easy as it sounds. My vote goes to Hartley though!

[Meers]

If AV wins, he'd be the first multiple Jack Adams winner since Pat Burns in '97/98.

Multiple winners:

Burns (3)
Bowman (2)
Demers (2)
Lemaire (2)
Quinn (2)

[Yamer]

With Scotty Bowman's legendary record it is astounding he has only won twice.

On topic, I think Hartley is rightly the most deserving of the honor this year. And that is being as objective as I can possibly allow myself.