Predators coach Andrew Brunette is one of three finalists for the NHL’s Jack Adams Award, given to the head coach who has “contributed the most to his team’s success.”
Brunette will be facing one of the other finalists, Vancouver’s Rick Tocchet, when the teams meet in Game Six of the first round Stanley Cup Playoff series Friday at Bridgestone Arena (6 p.m. CT).
The third finalist is Rick Bowness, whose Winnipeg Jets fell to the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the playoffs.
Members of the NHL Broadcasters’ Association submitted ballots for the Jack Adams Award at the end of the regular season, with the top three finishers named finalists.
Brunette was named coach of the organization last May, hired by then-new general manager Barry Trotz to replace John Hynes.
In his first season, Brunette led the Predators to a 47-30-5 mark and 99 points, good enough for fourth place in the Central Division and a wildcard spot in the postseason. Nashville had moved on from several veterans during the 2023 season, and parted ways with both Ryan Johansen and Matt Duchene in the offseason, replacing them with veterans like Ryan O’Reilly, Gustav Nyquist and Luke Schenn.
Brunette is a Jack Adams finalist for the second time in as many seasons as an NHL head coach, following a second-place finish with Florida in 2021-22. He guided the Panthers to a 51-18-6 record as interim coach of the Panthers that season, but was passed over for the full-time job, which went to Paul Maurice. In 2022-23, Brunette served as an assistant coach with the New Jersey Devils.
“Last time it didn't go quite so well,” Brunette joked with media Friday. “I think I lost my job a little while later — I don’t know how to take it anymore.”
Only two others have been voted finalists in each of their first two seasons behind an NHL bench: Calgary’s Terry Crisp (second in 1987-88 and third in 1988-89) and Ottawa’s Paul MacLean (third in 2011-12 and first in 2012-13).
Brunette is the third Jack Adams finalist in Predators history, joining Barry Trotz (second in 2009-10, third in 2010-11) and Peter Laviolette (third in 2014-15).