Canucks head coach wins the Jack Adams Award as NHL Best coach of the year

NEW YORK — Rick Tocchet of the Vancouver Canucks is this season’s Jack Adams Award winner as the NHL’s coach of the year.

The league announced Tocchet as the recipient, as selected by the NHL Broadcasters’ Association, on Wednesday.

Tocchet stated in a statement, “This really is a team award, and I couldn’t have done any of this without the support of our staff and complete buy-in from the players.” “This accomplishment makes me feel really honored and humbled, and I can’t wait to get back to work this summer as we continue to build our hockey team.

“The hockey community in Vancouver is very passionate, and our fans played a major role in our success this season.”

Out of 114 votes, Tocchet garnered 82 first-place votes and 483 voting points to win the prize.

Andrew Brunette of the Nashville Predators (145 points) and Rick Bowness of the Winnipeg Jets (75 points) were the other finalists.

 

The 60-year-old Tocchet helped the Canucks finish first in the Pacific Division with a 50-23-9 record in his first full season behind the team’s bench. Vancouver lost to the Edmonton Oilers in seven games in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

“Toc has created a true partnership between the players, coaches and staff,” Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin said. “He has held people accountable and worked very hard in putting a process in place for everyone to follow. Our staples and structure will help guide this group for years to come.

“I am very impressed with the job he has done this season and I am excited to see what lies ahead for this team under Toc’s direction.”

Tocchet, a first-time finalist, is the third Canucks coach to win the award after Pat Quinn in 1991-92 and Alain Vigneault in 2006-07.