The Jack Adams Award honors the NHL coach judged to have contributed the most to his team’s success. It was first awarded in 1973–74 and is voted on by the NHL Broadcasters’ Association.
In 2023–24, Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet won the award for the first time. He led the Canucks to a 50‑23‑9 record and a Pacific Division title. Tocchet earned 82 first-place votes and 483 total points. Under him, Vancouver improved from 22nd to 6th overall, cut goals against from 3.61 to 2.70 per game, and raised their penalty kill from last to 17th. The team also led the NHL in first-period goal differential (+38) and had a 42‑1‑4 record when leading after two periods.
List of NHL Jack Adams Award Winners
Rick Tocchet won the Jack Adams Award in 2023–24 with the Vancouver Canucks. Jim Montgomery earned it with the Boston Bruins in 2022–23, followed by Darryl Sutter in 2021–22 with the Calgary Flames. Rod Brind'Amour (2020–21) and Bruce Cassidy (2019–20) each won their first titles, coaching the Hurricanes and Bruins, respectively.
Barry Trotz won twice, with the Capitals in 2015–16 and the Islanders in 2018–19. Gerard Gallant received it in 2017–18 for leading the expansion team, the Vegas Golden Knights. John Tortorella has two wins—first in 2003–04 with the Lightning and again in 2016–17 with the Blue Jackets. Past winners include Patrick Roy (2013–14), Dan Bylsma (2010–11), and Bob Hartley (2014–15). The award was not presented in 2004–05 due to the NHL lockout.
| Season | Winner | Team | Win # |
| 2023–24 | Rick Tocchet | Vancouver Canucks | 1 |
| 2022–23 | Jim Montgomery | Boston Bruins | 1 |
| 2021–22 | Darryl Sutter | Calgary Flames | 1 |
| 2020–21[g] | Rod Brind'Amour | Carolina Hurricanes | 1 |
| 2019–20[g] | Bruce Cassidy | Boston Bruins | 1 |
| 2018–19 | Barry Trotz | New York Islanders | 2 |
| 2017–18 | Gerard Gallant | Vegas Golden Knights | 1 |
| 2016–17 | John Tortorella | Columbus Blue Jackets | 2 |
| 2015–16 | Barry Trotz | Washington Capitals | 1 |
| 2014–15 | Bob Hartley | Calgary Flames | 1 |
| 2013–14 | Patrick Roy | Colorado Avalanche | 1 |
| 2012–13[f] | Paul MacLean | Ottawa Senators | 1 |
| 2011–12 | Ken Hitchcock | St. Louis Blues | 1 |
| 2010–11 | Dan Bylsma | Pittsburgh Penguins | 1 |
| 2009–10 | Dave Tippett | Phoenix Coyotes | 1 |
| 2008–09 | Claude Julien | Boston Bruins | 1 |
| 2007–08 | Bruce Boudreau | Washington Capitals | 1 |
| 2006–07 | Alain Vigneault | Vancouver Canucks | 1 |
| 2005–06 | Lindy Ruff | Buffalo Sabres | 1 |
| 2004–05 | Season cancelled due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout | ||
| 2003–04 | John Tortorella | Tampa Bay Lightning | 1 |
| 2002–03 | Jacques Lemaire | Minnesota Wild | 2 |
| 2001–02 | Bobby Francis | Phoenix Coyotes | 1 |
| 2000–01 | Bill Barber | Philadelphia Flyers | 1 |
| 1999–2000 | Joel Quenneville | St. Louis Blues | 1 |
| 1998–99 | Jacques Martin | Ottawa Senators | 1 |
| 1997–98 | Pat Burns | Boston Bruins | 3 |
| 1996–97 | Ted Nolan | Buffalo Sabres | 1 |
| 1995–96 | Scotty Bowman | Detroit Red Wings | 2 |
| 1994–95[d] | Marc Crawford | Quebec Nordiques | 1 |
| 1993–94 | Jacques Lemaire | New Jersey Devils | 1 |
| 1992–93 | Pat Burns | Toronto Maple Leafs | 2 |
| 1991–92 | Pat Quinn | Vancouver Canucks | 2 |
| 1990–91 | Brian Sutter | St. Louis Blues | 1 |
| 1989–90 | Bob Murdoch | Winnipeg Jets | 1 |
| 1988–89 | Pat Burns | Montreal Canadiens | 1 |
| 1987–88 | Jacques Demers | Detroit Red Wings | 2 |
| 1986–87 | Jacques Demers | Detroit Red Wings | 1 |
| 1985–86 | Glen Sather | Edmonton Oilers | 1 |
| 1984–85 | Mike Keenan | Philadelphia Flyers | 1 |
| 1983–84 | Bryan Murray | Washington Capitals | 1 |
| 1982–83 | Orval Tessier | Chicago Black Hawks | 1 |
| 1981–82 | Tom Watt | Winnipeg Jets | 1 |
| 1980–81 | Red Berenson | St. Louis Blues | 1 |
| 1979–80 | Pat Quinn | Philadelphia Flyers | 1 |
| 1978–79 | Al Arbour | New York Islanders | 1 |
| 1977–78 | Bobby Kromm | Detroit Red Wings | 1 |
| 1976–77 | Scotty Bowman | Montreal Canadiens | 1 |
| 1975–76 | Don Cherry | Boston Bruins | 1 |
| 1974–75 | Bob Pulford | Los Angeles Kings | 1 |
| 1973–74 | Fred Shero | Philadelphia Flyers | 1 |
Read More: List of NHL Hart Trophy Winners
FAQ's On List of NHL Jack Adams Award Winners
A. Pat Burns is the only head coach who has claimed the Jack Adams award thrice.
A. The Jack Adams Award is selected in a vote by the NHL Broadcasters' Association.
A. Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet won the 2023‑24 Jack Adams Award.
A. Winnipeg Jets coach Scott Arniel, Washington Capitals bench boss Spencer Carbery, and Montreal Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis were named first-time finalists.
A. Paul Maurice Should was not one of the three finalists for the Jack Adams Award, which goes to the top coach in the NHL.
