Winnipeg Jets head coach Scott Arniel was named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award on Friday, May 2nd.
Arniel was one of three candidates, alongside Washington’s Spencer Carberry and Montreal’s Martin St. Louis, to be nominated for the 2025 award.
The 62-year-old Arniel coached the Winnipeg Jets to a regular season record of 56-22-4 and 116 points. Arniel, in his first season as head coach of the Winnipeg Jets, won the team’s first Presidents’ Trophy in franchise history.
It’s the Winnipeg Jets’ second consecutive appearance as a finalist for the award as Rick Bowness was a 2024 finalist.
Only three head coaches in NHL history have won more games in their first season as bench boss: Jim Montgomery (65 in 2022-23 with Boston), Mike Babcock (58 in 2005-06 with Detroit) and Tom Johnson (57 in 1970-71 with Boston).
Arniel is the first coach in league history to win each of his first eight games with a team. The Jets, under Arniel’s guidance, won 15 of their first 16 games to start the season, which is also a historic first for the league and the team.
The Jack Adams Award is awarded annually to the National Hockey League coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team’s success. The award has been presented 48 times to 40 coaches. The winner is selected by a poll of National Hockey League Broadcasters Association members at the end of the regular season.
The award has been presented multiple times to five coaches, while Pat Burns is the only coach to have won it three times. Jacques Demers remains the only coach to win the award in consecutive seasons.
The award is named in honour of Jack Adams, Hall of Fame player for the Toronto Arenas/St. Patricks, Vancouver Millionaires, and the original Ottawa Senators. Adams was a long-time coach and general manager of the Detroit Red Wings.
The award marks another massive accomplishment for the Jets’ record-setting season as Connor Hellebuyck is a finalist for two of the NHL’s most prestigious awards, the Vezina and Hart Trophies.
The Winnipeg Jets are in a do-or-die game seven at Canada Life Centre against the St. Louis Blues. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:00 pm CST.
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