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Babcock, Cooper, Roy named Jack Adams Finalists


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All three guys have a legitimate case. All great coaches.

Roy took a very young team and turned it into a dangerous contender in the west, which is extremely tough given the established competition (CHI, STL, LA, SJS, ANA). He trusted his youngsters, like McKinnon and Barrie, and they flourished under him (not to mention Landeskog, who had already established himself before this year). He also handled the Varlamov domestic violence situation well and didn't let it affect the team.

Babcock for the first time in a long time was coaching an "underdog" team. A lot of people are wondering how Detroit is going to handle the fact that Datsyuk and Zetterberg are getting older, but with those two out of the lineup for the stretch drive, the Wings played some of their best hockey. Just like Roy, Babcock trusted his young players, Tatar and Nyqvist, and they both flourished.

Cooper... exact same thing. Missing Stamkos for most of the year, still managed to make the playoffs, and had two players nominated for the Calder, which is almost unheard of. Bishop's play played a large part in their success, but the team still played extremely well in front of him.

The common denominator between these three? They're all "players' coaches" who support their young players and help them develop. Something to keep in mind as we go through a retool/rebuild with an injection of youth. I don't think Tortorella would've been capable of this.

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Good choices, although Bruce Boudreau should also have recieved consideration. Did anyone here honestly think the Ducks would win the Presidents trophy with a second line that included a 42 year old Sellane and a almost as old Koivu?

Have you considered that a 42 year old Selanne is probably better than half the players in the NHL regardless of their age? Yes his numbers are down. But he's always a threat out there. If anything Boudreau is like AV. He's not the answer, and he's not the solution either.

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All 3 have a case to win, but I'd give it to Babcock. He's always one of the best coaches every year, yet has never won. Plus his team was without so many of their top guys for long stretches yet they still made the playoffs.

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I don't see either of these guys going into the other teams locker room.

I don't see any difference, Torts just held onto his anger a bit longer.

Edit: I'm not defending neither one of them, just saying.

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Have you considered that a 42 year old Selanne is probably better than half the players in the NHL regardless of their age? Yes his numbers are down. But he's always a threat out there. If anything Boudreau is like AV. He's not the answer, and he's not the solution either.

Agree that Selanne is a heck of a player. That being said I think Boudreau got alot out of a Ducks team that isn't that different on paper from the team that missed the playoffs in 2012 and deserves some credit for that.

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I don't see any difference, Torts just held onto his anger a bit longer.

And that right there is the difference. It is one thing to react in the heat of the moment on the ice, it is very very different to react much later and off the ice. If a player fights another player on the ice it's no big deal just a roughing penalty, but if he punches a guy off the ice that's assualt.

As a coach it shows Torts was distracted with his anger all game and was able to lead his team with a clear head.

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And that right there is the difference. It is one thing to react in the heat of the moment on the ice, it is very very different to react much later and off the ice. If a player fights another player on the ice it's no big deal just a roughing penalty, but if he punches a guy off the ice that's assualt.

As a coach it shows Torts was distracted with his anger all game and was able to lead his team with a clear head.

But Torts didn't punch/assault anyone. He didn't even hit the door. ;)

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Personally, I think that if Torts had taken his team from the first overall pick to the third highest point total in the entire league in one season, the voters wouldn't give a rat's rear end if he went into an opposing dressing room...

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Personally, I think that if Torts had taken his team from the first overall pick to the third highest point total in the entire league in one season, the voters wouldn't give a rat's rear end if he went into an opposing dressing room...

Of course they wouldn't but Torts lost the respect of his players, Roy clearly didn't.

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Of course they wouldn't but Torts lost the respect of his players, Roy clearly didn't.

He certainly lost a lot of people's respect, but having never been in the Canucks' dressing room I'm not as quick to assume that the players felt the same.

It's certainly possible, but only the players themselves know for sure. I think the more likely scenario is that some liked the fact that he had their back and others found it embarrassing.

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