With the start of the 2023-24 National Hockey League campaign about three weeks away, it’s an ideal time to examine who will hoist the Jack Adams Trophy, an award distributed annually to the NHL coach judged to have contributed the most to his team’s success.
Last season, Boston Bruins coach Jim Montgomery took home the award after leading his team to a record-setting regular season. Luckily for prospective bettors, a wide range of value plays are available on the odds board as to who will take home the award in 2024.
Let’s dive into the latest NHL Coach of the Year odds, make some betting predictions, and go through the previous winners of the Jack Adams Trophy.
NHL Coach of the Year Odds 2024
NHL betting odds used for these Coach of the Year picks are from Thursday, Sept. 21, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Rod Brind’Amour, Carolina Hurricanes (+600)
- Lindy Ruff, New Jersey Devils (+800)
- Jay Woodcroft, Edmonton Oilers (+1000)
- Don Granato, Buffalo Sabres (+1000)
- Jared Bednar, Colorado Avalanche (+1200)
- Sheldon Keefe, Toronto Maple Leafs (+1500)
- Dave Hakstol, Seattle Kraken (+1500)
- Bruce Cassidy, Vegas Golden Knights (+1500)
- Peter DeBoer, Dallas Stars (+1500)
- D.J. Smith, Ottawa Senators (+1500)
- Todd McLellan, Los Angeles Kings (+1500)
- Peter Laviolette, New York Rangers (+1800)
Who Will Win NHL Coach of the Year?
Jay Woodcroft, Edmonton Oilers (+1000)
The Edmonton Oilers fell short of their goal of hoisting the Stanley Cup last season, losing in the second round of the playoffs to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights in six games.
However, the Oilers enter the 2023-24 campaign as one of the most talented teams in hockey and should be viewed as a serious contender to raise Lord Stanley. Since taking over midway through the 2021-22 season, Woodcroft has posted a stellar 76-32-12 (.683) record through 120 games, including three playoff series victories.
Woodcroft is an excellent communicator and has found the picture-perfect formula to supplement one of hockey’s most lethal power plays, which fired at a whopping 95.01% xGoals% last season. This ranked best in the NHL, complementing a lineup that includes Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Evan Bouchard, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
Look for Woodcroft to take home the Jack Adams at a very intriguing (+1000) price point.
NHL Coach of the Year Favorites
Rod Brind’Amour, Carolina Hurricanes (+600)
The past few seasons have seen the Carolina Hurricanes transform into one of the most well-balanced organizations in professional sports. And they have Rod “The Bod” Brind’Amour to thank for that.
Just like he was as a player, Brind’Amour is a fantastic coach who is married to the game. His accolades behind the bench speak for themselves. He won the Jack Adams in 2021, has amassed an impressive 226-107-37 (.661) coaching record, and has qualified for the postseason in all five seasons with Carolina.
- See where the Canes sit in our Stanley Cup betting odds.
On the ice, the Hurricanes enter 2023-24 as one of hockey’s most talented and dangerous teams and are known for their stout defense. Carolina ranked first in Expected Goals Against, Shots on Goal Against, and Score Adjusted Expected Goals % last season, per MoneyPuck.
This team is on course for yet another 50-win, 100-plus point campaign. There’s a reason Brind’Amour is the favorite to take home the award again.
Lindy Ruff, New Jersey Devils (+800)
The New Jersey Devils snapped a four-year playoff drought last season after a fantastic 52-win and 112-point campaign.
As a team, the Devils performed admirably both on the ice and in advanced metrics under the leadership of Lindy Ruff, finishing second in Flurry Adjusted Expected Goals and xGoals% and fourth in Shot Attempts (Corsi %) via MoneyPuck.
Heading into October, the Devils are projected to be one of hockey’s most talented clubs. They will be further bolstered by a full season of Timo Meier and Luke Hughes, the latter of whom is set to take the league by storm as one of its most hyped rookies.
If you’re looking for an added-value play on a team on the cusp of greatness, look no further than Ruff.
NHL Coach of the Year Contenders
Dave Hakstol, Seattle Kraken (+1500)
The Seattle Kraken enjoyed a phenomenal sophomore season in the NHL, posting an impressive 46-28-8 record en route to the franchise’s first playoff berth. Oh, and they upset the defending champion Colorado Avalanche in the first round.
The Kraken are expected to further improve on last season’s 100-point campaign, making Dave Hakstol a phenomenal wager at 15-1 odds.
- Check out our top 10 games to watch on the 2023-24 NHL schedule.
Seattle ranked third in the NHL in Goal Differential Above Expected, seventh in Expected Goals Against Per 60 Minutes, and fifth in Score Adjusted Unblocked Shot Attempts (Fenwick %), per MoneyPuck. It was a massive improvement from the season prior that saw the Kraken finish last in the Pacific Division.
The tremendous single-season turnaround is a testament to Hakstol and his staff. If the Kraken continue their ascension in the West, Hakstol could be rewarded.
Jared Bednar, Colorado Avalanche (+1200)
Although last season was a disappointing one, fresh off the heels of a Stanley Cup triumph, the Avalanche remain one of the best teams in hockey.
In addition to the all-world on-ice dominance led by Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Mikko Rantanen, and Bowen Byram, the Avs also dominated in various advanced statistical categories.
According to MoneyPuck, the Avalanche ranked second in Expected Power-Play Goals%, fourth in Expected Goals Against per 60 Minutes, and seventh in Goal-Differential Above Expected.
Colorado is one of the most talented and high-octane teams in professional sports and is among the favorites to once again hoist the Stanley Cup. If the Avalanche return to their peak, Bednar has a great chance of winning his first Jack Adams.
NHL Coach of the Year Sleepers
Todd McLellan, Los Angeles Kings (+1500)
My sleeper selections will focus on two coaches with long odds, both of whom are overlooked by various betting markets. Let’s start with Todd McLellan of the Los Angeles Kings.
For the second consecutive year, LA’s season ended at the hands of the Oilers. However, heading into the 2023-24 campaign, the Kings further bolstered their roster by signing Pierre-Luc Dubois, who came over from the Winnipeg Jets.
The Kings are among the league’s deepest teams at center, with Dubois joining Phillipp Danault and captain Anze Kopitar down the middle.
Los Angeles’ defensive core will also be augmented by NHL Calder Trophy odds contender Brandt Clarke, who is ready to make the full-time jump to the league. Clarke joins a unit that ranked third in Expected Goals Against Per 60 Minutes and sixth in High Danger Shots Against via MoneyPuck.
Don’t be surprised to see the Kings go on a long run this spring as one of the most well-balanced teams in hockey. And locking in McLellan at an attractive (+1500) price point could pay dividends.
Peter DeBoer, Dallas Stars (+1500)
Dallas Stars coach Peter DeBoer rounds out our list after leading his team to a 47-21-14 record and earning 108 points last season.
Dallas’ campaign ended at the hands of the Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final. Still, the Stars are again slated to be one of the premier teams in the Central Division, led by the quiet yet calculated DeBoer behind the bench.
Every NHL team needs a superstar. Luckily for Stars fans, they possess two of them in Miro Heiskanen and Jason Robertson.
Entering his age-24 season, Heiskanen has quickly evolved into one of hockey’s most dynamic defensemen, anchoring a stellar Stars D-core. And Robertson has grown into one of hockey’s most lethal wingers, putting up a monstrous 46-goal, 109-point campaign a season ago.
If Dallas can stay healthy, the Stars pose a massive threat to lift the Stanley Cup next spring, making DeBoer an excellent wager to take home Coach of the Year honors.
Previous NHL Coach of the Year Winners
2023: Jim Montgomery, Boston Bruins
2022: Darryl Sutter, Calgary Flames
2021: Rod Brind’Amour, Carolina Hurricanes
2020: Bruce Cassidy, Boston Bruins
2019: Barry Trotz, New York Islanders
2018: Gerard Gallant, Vegas Golden Knights
2017: John Tortorella, Columbus Blue Jackets
2016: Barry Trotz, Washington Capitals
2015: Bob Hartley, Calgary Flames
2014: Patrick Roy, Colorado Avalanche