Columbus Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella was named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award today by the NHL. The award, which dates to 1973, is given annually to the head coach “adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success” over the course of a season.
After following last in the Metropolitan Division and second-to-last in the Eastern Conference in 2016 with 76 points, Tortorella led the Blue Jackets to the fourth-best record in the NHL this season, finishing with 108 points.
Mike Babcock of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Todd McLellan of the Edmonton Oilers were also named finalists for the award. The winner will be announced at the NHL's annual award show, set to take place June 21 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Tortorella previously won the award in 2004, when he led the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Stanley Cup that season. Should he win again this season, he will become just the sixth coach in NHL history to win the Adams Award twice.
| Year | Coach | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2015–16 | BARRY TROTZ | WASHINGTON CAPITALS |
| 2014-15 | BOB HARTLEY | CALGARY FLAMES |
| 2013-14 | PATRICK ROY | COLORADO AVALANCHE |
| 2012-13 | PAUL MACLEAN | OTTAWA SENATORS |
| 2011-12 | KEN HITCHCOCK | ST. LOUIS BLUES |
| 2010-11 | DAN BYLSMA | PITTSBURGH PENGUINS |
| 2009-10 | DAVE TIPPETT | PHOENIX COYOTES |
| 2008-09 | CLAUDE JULIEN | BOSTON BRUINS |
| 2007-08 | BRUCE BOUDREAU | WASHINGTON CAPITALS |
| 2006-07 | ALAIN VIGNEAULT | VANCOUVER CANUCKS |
