First things first - here's the big, clumsy reveal, in case you missed it (and want to see some Don Cherry self-indulgence).Anyway, per the Caps:
"The National Hockey League announced today that Washington head coach Bruce Boudreau is one of three finalists for the Jack Adams Award, which is presented annually to the coach who has contributed the most to his team’s success. Boudreau joins Detroit’s Mike Babcock and Montreal’s Guy Carbonneau as the three finalists.If I had to handicap the race, I'd say Babcock has no chance and that Gabby should edge Carbo. Since the media votes for the award, you'd think that the Boudreau story and his endless quotability work in his favor. Then again, he's going up against the Habs' bench boss, so who knows?
"Members of the NHL Broadcasters' Association submitted ballots for the Jack Adams Award at the conclusion of the regular season, with the top three vote-getters announced as finalists. The winner will be announced Thursday, June 12 during the 2008 NHL Awards Television Special, which will be broadcast live throughout Canada on CBC and the United States on VERSUS from the historic Elgin Theatre in Toronto.
"Boudreau is the third Capital finalist for a postseason award and will be joined in Toronto by Alex Ovechkin (Hart Trophy finalist) and Nicklas Backstrom (Calder Memorial Trophy finalist). The Capitals could become the first team since the inception of the Jack Adams Award (1973-74) to have the coach of the year, player of the year and rookie of the year. Boudreau would be the second Capital head coach to win the award, as Bryan Murray received the honor after the 1983-84 season.
"Boudreau became the 14th head coach in Washington history when he was named to the position on an interim basis on Nov. 22, 2007. The interim tag was removed on Dec. 26, 2007.
"The Capitals were in 30th place when he accepted the job, but Boudreau quickly turned things around starting with a stirring overtime victory in Philadelphia on Nov. 23, 2007. In his 61 games behind the bench the Capitals posted a 37-17-7 record and ended the regular season on a seven-game winning streak to win the Southeast Division.
"Washington became the first team in NHL history to come back from 14th or 15th place at midseason and make the playoffs and became only the second team in NHL history to finish a season in first place in its division immediately after three or more consecutive last-place finishes.
"Boudreau, who had the Capitals on a 109-point pace had he coached the entire season, was the fastest coach in team history to reach 20 wins (34 games) and 30 wins (53 games). Washington earned 81 points after Boudreau was hired, which was only three points behind Detroit and Pittsburgh, which led the league with 84 points during the same timeframe.
"Boudreau rallied the Caps to 17 comeback victories and posted a 20-6-7 record in games decided by one goal. Washington ended the regular season with a club record 11 wins in overtime or shootout."
Oh, and a discussion on Karl Alzner's new hardware has sprouted up in the comments as well, FYI.
10 comments:
Quite impressive company: Boudreau's fellow nominees are the bench bosses for the East and West's best teams.
In other news: Karl Alzner was named both the WHL's MVP and best defenseman.
Indeed. And to answer the inevitable next questions...
Here's a list of WHL MVP winners and here's the list of the best defensemen winners.
Great minds think alike?
Alzner, the fifth overall pick in the 2007 Entry Draft, captained both the the WHL’s regular season Eastern Conference champion Calgary Hitmen and the gold medal winning Canadian team at the World Juniors tournament. Past winners of the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy (WHL MVP) include Cam Ward, Eric Fehr, Steve Konowalchuk, Joe Sakic and Jarome Iginla. Past winners of the Bill Hunter Memorial Trophy (WHL’s best defenseman) include Dion Phaneuf, Brendan Witt, Jason Smith and Chris Phillips.
Amazing knowing what we know now to think that Fehr could beat out Phaneuf for Player of the Year, but his numbers that year were ridiculous (note, too, who he tied with in assists).
[Cue comment to the tune of "Amazing that GMGM took Fehr instead of Getzlaf."]
WE COULDA HAD GETZLAF!!!!!!!11!1
Dude, that assist list has a kid named "Colton Yellow Horn".
Wtf.
oh my goodness, how tacky was THAT (the big reveal).
Boudreau will win this easily. I thought the only person who coulda beaten him would be the Nashville dude (who kinda looks like him).
Oh, and how bout those Flyers ;)
If Alzner is close to being the player everybody says he can be, we've got one hell of a defenseman.
I'm so excited for Boudreau and happy that he's going to be here for a long time. I really think he deserves to win based on the other 2 finalists.
On Alzner...wow, he's in good company with his new hardware. If he fulfills his potential at the NHL level the Caps future is brighter than ever.
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