Andrew Brunette, Gerard Gallant and Darryl Sutter named 2022 Jack Adams Award finalists

The NHL announced on Thursday morning that the Florida Panthers’ Andrew Brunette, the New York Rangers’ Gerard Gallant and the Calgary Flames’ Darryl Sutter were named finalists for the 2022 Jack Adams Award.

The Jack Adams Award is given to the head coach who is believed to have the biggest contribution to his team in a season, as voted on by the NHL Broadcasters Association. In recent years, it has often gone to the head coach that exceeds expectations with his team. Only one coach has won the award three times, as Pat Burns won it as head coach of the Montreal Canadiens in 1988-89, the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1992-93, and the Boston Bruins in 1997-98. The last time the Jack Adams Award winner won the Stanley Cup in the same season was John Tortorella with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2003-04.

Brunette took over as head coach of the Panthers on October 28, 2021 after Joel Quenneville stepped down from the role, and Brunette led the Panthers to their first Presidents’ Trophy in franchise history. They finished first in the league with a 58-18-6 record, first in 5-on-5 shot attempt share with 57.22 percent, second in 5-on-5 expected goal share with 56.4 percent and also set a salary cap era record for most goals in a season. Given 2021-22 is Brunette’s first season as an NHL coach, he’s naturally a first-time finalist.

Gallant is in his first season as head coach of the Rangers after replacing David Quinn in the offseason and led the Rangers to their first playoff appearance since 2017 (excluding their berth in the 2020 play-in tournament). They finished second in the Metropolitan Division with a 52-24-6 record, 24th in the league in 5-on-5 shot attempt share with 47.34 percent and 21st in 5-on-5 expected goal share with 47.61 percent. Gallant previously won the award in 2017-18 for his season with the Vegas Golden Knights and was a finalist for the award in 2015-16 for his season with the Panthers.

Sutter is in his second season during his current tenure as head coach of the Flames after replacing Geoff Ward midway through the 2020-21 season. They finished first in the Pacific Division and sixth overall with a 50-21-11 record, second in 5-on-5 shot attempt share with 57.16 percent, and fifth in 5-on-5 expected goal share with 55.5 percent. This is Sutter’s second time as a finalist for the award, the other coming in his previous stint coaching the Flames in 2003-04.