Without a doubt, Rick Tocchet should win the Jack Adams Award: Canucks Conversation
in 39 seconds
On Friday’s episode of Canucks Conversation, David Quadrelli and Harman Dayal weighed in on Rick Tocchet’s Jack Adams nomination — the award recognizing the league’s top coach — highlighting his remarkable transformation of the Vancouver Canucks’ defensive woes.
“Credit to Brunette, he’s done a terrific job with the Nashville Predators,” Harm stated. “It looked like it was going to be a re-tooling year for them, but he hasn’t authored the type of turnaround that Tocchet has defensively. The Canucks have gone from being one of the worst defensive teams in the NHL to one of the best in one season without massive personnel changes. They’ve had some changes on the back end with their back six which has made an impact, but you haven’t revolutionized this roster. To have that type of turnaround in one season is something I would’ve thought impossible before the season started, so massive credit to him. As for Rick Bowness, yes the Jets wildly exceeded expectations for the regular season, but it’s funny seeing him nominated for the Jack Adams after he just got massively out-coached in round one. He couldn’t make any adjustments against Jared Bednar and the Avs, they picked them apart offensively. I know the voting happens before the playoffs so it’s not a dumb pick, it’s just kinda funny given how the last couple weeks went for the Winnipeg Jets.”
Quads agreed: “Aside from turning around one of the league’s worst teams; so much consistency from the Canucks. The Predators and Jets had a lot of stretches where they just weren’t that good. Obviously the Canucks had their rough patches as well, but I think Rick Tocchet is a shoe-in for that award.”
While the award is typically seen as an individual honor, Rick Tocchet himself reframed the narrative during a recent press conference. “It’s an organizational award for me. It’s the GM, ownership, assistant coaches, players. You’re a piece of the puzzle, but I have a huge support group that helps me. That’s the way I look at it” said Tocchet.
The Jack Adams Award has a rich history within the NHL. It was introduced in 1974 and is voted on by members of the NHL Broadcasters’ Association. This year’s finalists – Tocchet, Brunette, and Bowness – reflect the league’s growing appreciation for coaches who can maximize their rosters, even without stacked lineups.
While the Canucks’ defensive improvement is widely celebrated, their success under Tocchet goes deeper. The team has developed a gritty, relentless identity this season, often winning close, low-scoring games. Seeing the team down 2-1 with 10 minutes left, this team has given us reason to still have faith; a luxury we were rarely afforded in years past.
As the Jack Adams Award winner announcement approaches, one thing is certain: Rick Tocchet’s coaching prowess has put not only himself, but also the Canucks, firmly back on the NHL map.
You can watch the full replay of Friday’s episode below:
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