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.

2010 PSW Jack Adams Winner

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Posted By: Joe Soriano - Category: Mike McCarthy, Pittsburgh Penguins, Kris Letang, Dan Bylsma, James Neal, Brooks Orpik, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Marc-Andre Fleury, Alexei Kovalev, Jordan Staal, Tampa Bay Lightning, Guy Boucher, Barry Trotz, Dave Tippett

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3/5 NFL News: Discussions and Mike McCarthy Extended

March 5th 2011 15:30

Well, we all know that the discussions for a new CBA have been extended for seven days. Free agency is still frozen and teams cannot re-sign their own players. They can only talk to the agents of their own players, but no deals can be done. However, at least both sides are willing to talk and want to come to an agreement. The extension of talks actually happened because the owners were scared and didn't want the Players' Association to decertify, so they caved into the demands of at least extending talks.

Mike McCarthy was given an extended deal, which comes as no surprise after he led his team to Super Bowl victory in the midst of injuries to several key players. McCarthy did a nice job this year, and he was a better coach in 2010 than Bill Belichick. The AP can say whatever they want. Zach Miller and Michael Bush were tendered by Oakland. Miller is a mainstay for the Raiders, and he is pretty much their entire passing game. Although it wouldn't be big news if Reggae Bush wasn't retained, he still is important if Darren McFadden- who has an injury history- was to be injured. Bush is a capable backup.

Kevin Smith and Julian Peterson are two poor players that don't give the Lions much these days, and it's no surprise that they were not re-signed. Smith had a decent rookie year, but he has been terrible of late. Julian Peterson was one of the best pass rushing outside linebackers in his prime. Nowadays, he is just some old JAG.

Plaxico Burress' time in prison was decreased due to good behavior, and he will be released in early June. Burress was actually a hard worker, but the media just never cared to look at him in that way. He made one very stupid decision, and he has paid for it. I would take a chance on him because another Michael Vick like redemption story could blossom.

As expected, teams wanted AJ Hawk right after he was released by the Packers; but they didn't know that he was going to be re-signed again. Hawk and the Packers were never going to part ways. Hawk loves the team, and he was a huge leader for them last year. Hawk would have made 10 million dollars extra had he not been released, but Hawk doesn't care about the money. It has to do with him helping the team win another one. Unlike quite a few players out there, Hawk isn't narrow-minded. He cares about his organization. The only reason why the Pack released him was to save cash. Hawk just wants to play, money or not.

Anyway, there are rumblings that Nick Barnett is now expendable. The top run-stuffing interior linebacker missed a huge chunk of the season with a wrist injury last year. Barnett could get traded because of the emergence- and extension- of fellow ILB Desmond Bishop. Barnett could also be released if nobody wants to trade for him. I really think a team like the Lions should go hard after Barnett. That would be a huge addition for a team with their horrible core of LBs.