Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)
The Jets are in the running for a few end of season awards and another was revealed today as the NHL announced that first year head coach Scott Arniel had been named a Jack Adams Finalist. This is the second year in a row the Jets had a coach named as a finalist as last year Rick Bowness was one of the three announced.
This season Arniel was named a finalist alongside Spencer Carbery (Capitals) and Martin St. Louis (Canadiens).
From the NHL:
Arniel, 62, is in his first season as head coach of the Jets and led the club to franchise records in points (116) and wins (56) as Winnipeg captured the first Presidents’ Trophy in franchise history. Only three head coaches in NHL history have earned more victories in their first season at the helm of an organization: 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’s Jets set a franchise record with 26 road victories during the season. Their 30 home wins were the second-most in the NHL this season and only the 2017-18 Winnipeg team won more on home ice (32). The Jets also had the top power play in the NHL for the first time in franchise history at 28.9% and the top goal differential (+86).
Arniel, who became the first head coach in league history to win each of his first eight games with a club (Oct. 9-26), additionally helped Winnipeg become the first team in NHL history to win 15 of their first 16 games.That stretch included separate win streaks of eight and seven games. Winnipeg bested those runs with a string of 11 straight victories from Jan. 22-Feb. 26, another franchise record.
The favourite for the award is the Captials Spencer Carbery.
The date and opponent is now set.
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