By Larry Rupp
The NHL season has crossed the midway point and this year’s competition features its fair share of surprising teams that continue to rise up the standings. It has caused the NHL Coach of the Year race to become such a hard one to predict. After all, 12 different organizations have boasted a winner since the 2009-10 season.
With that in mind, it’s time to take a look at some of the best bets to make in regards to the Jack Adams Trophy. All odds are according to Vegas Insider.
Safest Pick: Rod Brind’Amour, Carolina Hurricanes (+600)
Carolina’s Rod Brind’Amour has a prime opportunity to join Jacques Demers as the only coaches in NHL history to win the Jack Adams trophy in back-to-back years. The former NHL pro has guided the Hurricanes to three consecutive playoff berths and has them well set up for another one with a few months of regular season action left. Overall, Carolina has posted a point percentage well over .600 since Brind’Amour was hired back in 2018. That level of dominance is not achieved easily.
It’s worth pointing out that the Hurricanes lost one of their top defensemen in Dougie Hamilton to free agency this past offseason. Carolina also traded away their No. 1 goaltender in Alex Nedeljkovic, yet it hasn’t mattered one bit. This team is adapting on a nightly basis and looks poised for another run at the Stanley Cup. Brind’Amour is a safe bet here.
Congratulations to 2021 Jack Adams Award winner, Rod Brind'Amour! 👏 #NHLAwards pic.twitter.com/SYNMZJcRJe
— NHL (@NHL) June 17, 2021
Underrated Odds: Gerard Gallant, New York Rangers (+900)
The New York Rangers hired Gerard Gallant back in June of 2021 to take over the reins in what was expected to be a rebuilding season. However, the 58-year-old is now leading his team to much loftier goals. The Rangers are sitting pretty in the playoff picture and fighting for first place in the Metropolitan division. In fact, Gallant’s team ranks amongst NHL’s top 10 in categories such as goals allowed and save percentage. His defense is downright punishing.
Of course, Gallant is no stranger to the Jack Adams Trophy. He took home the honors during the 2017-18 season with the Vegas Golden Knights after guiding the expansion team to a Pacific division title in its first year in the league. Grabbing Gallant at +900 odds is a smart idea given the Rangers don’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon.
Top-shelf, backhand beauty W. pic.twitter.com/X3YQ4W2D1Q
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) January 25, 2022
Long-Shot Bet: Mike Sullivan, Pittsburgh Penguins (+1400)
It’s simply insane to see Mike Sullivan with odds this low at this point in the season. The Penguins head coach was recently touted as the favorite to win the Jack Adams Trophy after a poll taken by NHL executives was completed. There isn’t much of a better endorsement than that. It shouldn’t come as a huge shock, though. Pittsburgh has won the third-most games in the NHL since Sullivan was hired as the head coach in 2015.
Sullivan is once again doing what he does best and willing an injured Pittsburgh roster into playoff contention. The Penguins started the year without stars Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby and have dealt with COVID-19 issues all season long. They have still remained one of the hottest teams in the league, losing just a handful of games since the start of December. Backing Sullivan here could pay off in a big way.
Mike Sullivan: "I think the expectations inside of our dressing room are extremely high. So there’s never a sense of satisfaction. There’s always a hunger for more.” #Pens
— Wes Crosby (@OtherNHLCrosby) January 26, 2022
Picture Credit: Michael Miller
