The Jack Adams Award annually goes to who the NHL Broadcasters' Association feels was the coach of the regular season in 2011-2012. The three nominees are all worthy ones -- frankly, there could have been more -- and the Blues' Ken Hitchcock seems the favorite to go home with it. Hitch took a team that was 6-7-0 and brought them just a few points away from the Presidents' Trophy. He fixed the special teams, and motivated the Blues into thinking that settling for a lower playoff seed just isn't good enough.
Hitchcock made his debut behind the St. Louis bench Nov. 8 with the club at 6-7-0 and posted a 43-15-11 record the rest of the way; the109-point season was the Blues' best since capturing the Presidents' Trophy in 1999-2000. The club broke or tied 13 franchise records, including a 21-game home points streak and 30 home wins overall. The Blues allowed the NHL's fewest goals against by a wide margin (165), the fewest shots per game (26.7) and posted the most shutouts (15). Hitchcock earned his fourth career nomination as a Jack Adams finalist and the first in 13 years; he finished second in 1997 and third in 1998 and 1999, all with Dallas.
Best of luck to Hitch. I admit, I was concerned when the Blues fired Davis Payne and hired Hitchcock, just based on past reputation. I'm more than willing to eat my words.