Joe Soriano
O.J. Lewis2010 PSW Jack Adams Trophy
April 19th 2011 14:56
Each year, the Jack Adams Trophy is given to the best NHL coach that season. I am going to give my own Jack Adams award for this website based on what happened during the 2010-2011 season. Barry Trotz, Dave Tippett, Dan Bylsma, and Guy Boucher were my four finalists. My final winner was a coach that showed why he is mentioned among the best in the league with another job well done in guiding his team through the playoffs in the midst of a myriad of set-backs that would leave most coaches overwhelmed.
Pittsburgh Penguins Coach Dan Bylsma
Most of what went into this pick actually wasn't Pittsburgh bias. The best and third best player in the league went down with serious injuries and were done for the season. For those of you that are a little bit lost, I'm talking about Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Bylsma did what any great coach would do; he improvised.
The Penguins were a flashy offensive juggernaut with Crosby and Malkin, but Bylsma successfully transformed his team into a top defensive squad. They had the best penalty kill in the league, while also allowing the 6th least goals in the NHL. Although Crosby did play during the season enough to accumulate 32 goals and was absolutely amazing when he was playing, losing your best player- and probably the best player in the league- for half of the season is crushing. Star center Jordan Staal was another key player that missed a significant chunk of the season.
Brooks Orpik, Kris Letang, and Marc-Andre Fleury made this team a tough defensive team. Letang was one of the best defensemen this year, and Fleury was one of the best goaltenders and the team's MVP. Fleury kept everything going and showed why he is a great player. Players like Alexei Kovalev and James Neal were great after they were acquired in trades by the Penguins thanks to Bylsma's ability to get them acclimated.
Dan Bylsma isn't great just because he coaches a great team. Only the good coaches can still maintain a high level of play even after key injuries- like Mike McCarthy. The Penguins are currently ahead of a tough Tampa Bay Lightning team- whose coach is Boucher- in the first round of the playoffs.
Pittsburgh Penguins Coach Dan Bylsma
Most of what went into this pick actually wasn't Pittsburgh bias. The best and third best player in the league went down with serious injuries and were done for the season. For those of you that are a little bit lost, I'm talking about Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Bylsma did what any great coach would do; he improvised.
The Penguins were a flashy offensive juggernaut with Crosby and Malkin, but Bylsma successfully transformed his team into a top defensive squad. They had the best penalty kill in the league, while also allowing the 6th least goals in the NHL. Although Crosby did play during the season enough to accumulate 32 goals and was absolutely amazing when he was playing, losing your best player- and probably the best player in the league- for half of the season is crushing. Star center Jordan Staal was another key player that missed a significant chunk of the season.
Brooks Orpik, Kris Letang, and Marc-Andre Fleury made this team a tough defensive team. Letang was one of the best defensemen this year, and Fleury was one of the best goaltenders and the team's MVP. Fleury kept everything going and showed why he is a great player. Players like Alexei Kovalev and James Neal were great after they were acquired in trades by the Penguins thanks to Bylsma's ability to get them acclimated.
Dan Bylsma isn't great just because he coaches a great team. Only the good coaches can still maintain a high level of play even after key injuries- like Mike McCarthy. The Penguins are currently ahead of a tough Tampa Bay Lightning team- whose coach is Boucher- in the first round of the playoffs.
2010 PSW Jack Adams Winner
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