Could a New Coach Win the Jack Adams Award in 2025-26?

In recent years, most new NHL hires haven’t had to wait long to be a contender for the Jack Adams Trophy — the award given each year to the league’s best coach. 

For four straight years, the NHL’s Broadcasters Association has bestowed the trophy upon a coach in his first or second season with whatever team they’re currently employed by. 

So, let’s take this opportunity to take stock of who’ll be behind the bench in a new home this upcoming season and whether they can make a run at the Jack Adams. 

Could a New Coach Win the Jack Adams Award in 2025-26?

Joel Quenneville, Ducks (+700)

Coach Q will return to the NHL in Anaheim this season, and he’s currently the odds-favorite to win the Jack Adams Award. 

Quenneville last coached with the Florida Panthers in 2021 before resigning due to his involvement in the Chicago Blackhawks sexual assault scandal. 

Now, Quenneville will coach a rejiggered Ducks roster with hopes of bringing that team back to the playoffs. Anaheim is +250 to make the playoffs and +4000 to win the Pacific Division. 

Mike Sullivan, Rangers (+1600)

Mike Sullivan left the, presumably, rebuilding Penguins for a job in the Big Apple. He’s currently among the top tier of odds favorites for the Jack Adams Trophy with the odds set at +1600.

Despite winning the Stanley Cup twice with Pittsburgh, Sullivan has never been a finalist for the Jack Adams. 

His Rangers are -200 to make the playoffs and +2800 to win the Stanley Cup. 

Rick Tocchet, Flyers (+2200)

Rick Tocchet won the Jack Adams Award in 2024 after coaching the Canucks to a 50-23-9 record. He was fired by Vancouver this offseason after he failed to make the playoffs in his third year on the job. 

Now with the Flyers, Tocchet is a bit of a long shot to win the Jack Adams. He has a strong chance if he can turn around the young Philadelphia team that just recently acquired “star” center Trevor Zegras, sorry for the quotes. 

The Flyers are +250 to make the playoffs and +3000 to win the Metropolitan Division.

Jeff Blashill, Blackhawks (+2200)

Chicago is in desperate need of something to work after what’s been a disappointing start to the Connor Bedard era. If newly-hired Jeff Blashill can turn the team around, make the playoffs, or even a run towards it then he’ll become a strong contender for the Jack Adams. 

This is Blashill’s first coaching job since a seven-year coaching stint with the Detroit Red Wings that ended in 2022. 

The Blackhawks are tied with the San Jose Sharks for the league’s lowest odds to win the Stanley Cup, set at +50000. Chicago’s odds to make the playoffs are currently set at +1600.

Adam Foote, Canucks (+2500)

Taking over for Tocchet in Vancouver is two-time Stanley Cup winner Adam Foote. This will be Foote’s first coaching gig in the NHL after a two-year run as head coach in the WHL and a two-year run as an assistant with the Canucks.

Foote’s odds for the Jack Adams are currently set at +2500. 

This is an important season for Vancouver given the soon-to-be-impending UFA status of star defenseman Quinn Hughes. But if Vancouver overperforms it’s hard to necessarily see that as an opportunity for an Adams win for Foote given that the expectations for that roster are already somewhat high. 

The Canucks are currently +115 to make the playoffs and +6600 to win the Stanley Cup.

Marco Sturm, Boston Bruins (+2800)

First-time NHL head coach Marco Sturm will take over for interim coach Joe Sacco in Boston. 

Sturm, who played for the Bruins from 2005 to 2010, was most recently the head coach for the Ontario Reign, the AHL-affiliate for the Kings. 

Things probably can’t go as poorly for Sturm as they did for his predecessors, Sacco and Jim Montgomery, who helmed a 33-39-10 Boston team that finished 8th in the Atlantic Division. 

Like others on this list, if Sturm can help the Bruins overperform in his first year, he’ll become a major contender for the Jack Adams Award. 

Boston’s odds to make the playoffs are currently set at +375 and their odds to win their division are set at +5000. 

Lane Lambert, Kraken (+4000)

Lane Lambert became third head coach in Seattle’s history this offseason after the team finished 7th in their division with a 35-41-6 record. 

The Kraken made some moves this offseason but still probably don’t have enough talent to make any significant noise in the 2025-26 season which will make it very hard for Lambert to contend for the Jack Adams. 

Seattle is currently +550 to make the playoffs and +20000 to win the Stanley Cup. 

Glen Gulutzan, Stars (+5000)

The honor of being the last coach picked up in the hiring cycle this offseason went to Dallas’ Glen Gulutzan. 

The Stars made a strange move to fire Peter DoBoer this offseason despite the team finishing second in the Central Division and making it to the Conference Finals. DeBoer had only had the job in Dallas for three seasons.  

Gulutzan last coached the Stars in the 2011-12 season and the lockout shortened 2012-13 season, after that he had a brief stint with the Calgary Flames. He’s also bounced around in assistant positions for teams like the Canucks and Oilers. 

Gulutzan has the eighth-worst odds to win the Jack Adams Award given the fact that Dallas was good last year and was probably going to be good again this year with or without his involvement. 

The Stars have the sixth best odds to win the Stanley Cup with +1000.