According to reporter Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports et Journal de Montréal, the National Hockey League Coaches Association wants the NHL to rename the Jack Adams Trophy, the NHL’s equivalent of coach of the year, to the Scotty Bowman Trophy. They also recommend that should this motion pass, the award given to the league’s best general manager should be named after Jack Adams.
1/2 NHL coach association wants the league to rename the Jack Adams trophy to Scotty Bowman trophy for the coach of the year.
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) August 10, 2015
2/2 The Association recommend the Jack Adams trophy is given to the GM of the year. Mr. Adams had a lot of success as a GM in the NHL.
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) August 10, 2015
Bowman is one of the most decorated coaches in NHL history who’s had an impact on multiple franchises during his long career. He would certainly be worthy of the name change, as he’s won 1,248 games as a head coach, posting a .582 winning percentage. Most importantly, he led his teams to nine Stanley Cup victories. The now retired Hall of Famer was one of the most influential coaches in NHL history.
The suggestion of changing the general manager of the year makes sense, as the award currently isn’t named after anybody. While there might be other worthy candidates, such as former Montreal Canadiens GM Sam Pollock or former New York Islanders GM Bill Torrey, giving Adams (who was a general manager) the name would be a neutral solution as opposed to bumping him altogether.
Is Adams worthy of being the name that connects GM’s to being the best in their field? While he’s certainly accomplished, having been the GM of the Detroit Red Wings for 35 years, but I’m sure there will be plenty of debate should the change be made.
