Barry Trotz named a finalist for Jack Adams Trophy as NHL's top coach

by Chris Burton on Apr 28, 2010 12:08 PM EDT

In a moment that could definitely be added to our top ten list from this morning, Nashville Predators head coach Barry Trotz has been nominated for the Jack Adams Trophy which is awarded to the National Hockey League's best coach. Dave Tippett of Phoenix (the favorite) and Joe Sacco of Colorado are the other nominees. Its Trotz's first career nomination, and one that probably should've come some time ago.

From the NHL:

Joe Sacco of the Colorado Avalanche, Dave Tippett of the Phoenix Coyotes and Barry Trotz of the Nashville Predators are the three finalists for the 2009-10 Jack Adams Award, presented to the head coach who has "contributed the most to his team's success," the National Hockey League announced today.
...
Trotz guided the Predators to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the fifth time in the past six seasons with a 47-29-6 record for 100 points, placing third behind 2009 Western Conference Finalists Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings in the tough Central Division. The club played its best hockey down the stretch, posting the NHL's fourth-best record after the Olympic break (14-6-1). Trotz coached his 900th NHL game, all with Nashville, on Apr. 3 at Detroit, joining Al Arbour (N.Y. Islanders), Billy Reay (Chicago), Lindy Ruff (Buffalo), Jack Adams (Detroit) and Toe Blake (Montreal) as the only coaches to reach the milestone with one team.

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well deserved

power play invisibility be darned.

by HartnellsMop on Apr 28, 2010 12:31 PM EDT reply actions

Woohoo!

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by Aditya T (smashville) on Apr 28, 2010 12:42 PM EDT reply actions

Trotzy won't get it...

…Tippett will. He’s the sexy story right now with all the mess in Phoenix. Doesn’t matter that Trotz does what he does with less than any other team in the league and doesn’t have the NHL footing the bill for trade-deadline aquisitions like the ’Yotes. Neither of those other teams made the playoffs 5 of the last 6 years…but Trotz and Poile put out a competitive team year after year. Will he be rewarded this time?? I highly doubt it…but just remember we love ya here in Nashville big guy..

by TitanPredBearFan on Apr 28, 2010 12:44 PM EDT reply actions

NHL Didn't Open Their Checkbook for Tippet

The Yotes have a lower actual payroll than the Preds and a slightly higher cap hit. It’s unfair to say that Tippet benefited from the NHL ‘footing the bill’. Tippet, Sacco and Trotz all did a great job. You can add Murray of the Kings to that list as well.

On another note, it is strange that Tippet is being so highly lauded for his work in Phoenix (totally deserved btw) yet Trotz went through almost exactly the same thing the year the Preds were sold. There were no new owners for the Preds until December of that year. Leipold gutted the team. The Preds weren’t expected to contend, yet he had them in the playoffs. He was not nominated that year. I just find it ironic.

by Predaceous on Apr 28, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Its because anybody with the preds has to “go above and beyond” before they get a minimal amount of attention or respect from the media or league.

by flyalder on Apr 28, 2010 1:16 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

The NHL guaranteed all money...

that the ‘Yotes spent this season. I’m sure the Preds would have liked that same scenario.

by TitanPredBearFan on Apr 28, 2010 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions

No they didn't

The league gave the Coyotes a modest, fixed budget at the start of the season. They stayed under it all along, which allowed them the flexibility to add pieces at the Trade Deadline.

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On the Forecheck is SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators.

by Dirk Hoag on Apr 28, 2010 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions

My bad...

My understanding was they guaranteed their payroll. That does make what moves they made at the deadline more impressive for sure then,,,

by TitanPredBearFan on Apr 28, 2010 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions

its about time

by flyalder on Apr 28, 2010 12:48 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

So we don't have any nominations for any awards for 10 years

and then we get 2 nominations in a row!

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Official Graphic Goon of On The Forecheck.

by Aditya T (smashville) on Apr 28, 2010 12:50 PM EDT reply actions

We should have had 3.

Unless you can find someone to actually convince me that Mike Green is a better defenseman than Shea Weber.

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by Patten on Apr 28, 2010 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Or drew doughty

by flyalder on Apr 28, 2010 1:09 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Unfortunately, thats all about the numbers.

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"What do you think this is? Major League Baseball?"- Shea Weber

by Chris Burton on Apr 28, 2010 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions

i find it funny

That the nominations came from the 3 teams I feel like I’ve heard about the most from the media this year.

by flyalder on Apr 28, 2010 1:18 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Remember, the awards aren’t for “who is better” but rather, “who had the better season.”

I think you’d find it hard to really argue that Shea had one of the top 3 seasons for any defenseman in the league this year. He’s a great talent, he’ll have his day.

More fun than a stick to the face!
On the Forecheck is SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators.

by Dirk Hoag on Apr 28, 2010 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Weber was voted

by his peers as the third most feared shut-down defensemen in SI’s poll. Pretty good company with only current Norris winner Zdeno Chara and Lidstrom ahead of him. Like others have said his day is coming…soon.

by TitanPredBearFan on Apr 28, 2010 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions

just a nit pick

Just a minor point but Trotz is one of three finalists. This is not a nomination. I’m assuming there were more than three coaches nominated.

by lstcyr on Apr 28, 2010 3:19 PM EDT reply actions

good point

I’ll correct the headline, that’s a good clarification.

More fun than a stick to the face!
On the Forecheck is SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators.

by Dirk Hoag on Apr 28, 2010 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Cliche time

So is Tippett the favorite because he got even more done with even less…whereas Trotz just got more done with less, while Joe Sacco got almost as much done with slightly more than the teams with less?

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by Patten on Apr 28, 2010 3:27 PM EDT reply actions

I would think so

You have to put Tippett as the heavy favorite, just based on their playoff series and the run at the end of the season. It’s a “Victory amid adversity” kind of thing

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by TwoPointSpread on Apr 29, 2010 8:03 AM EDT up reply actions