NHL Jack Adams Award Odds: Rick Tocchet Leading the Way for the Canucks

NHL All-Star Weekend is almost here, and there's no better time to take a look at the award races going on in the league.

As with any race, things are often going to be tight to the very end of the season. However, the Jack Adams Award for best head coach in the league is looking less and less like a race as the days go by. It shouldn't come as a shock when you look at the standings and have an appreciation for how impressive certain teams have been throughout the 2023-24 season.

Let's dive into the Jack Adams Award odds, per FanDuel Sportsbook.

NHL Jack Adams Award Odds

Rick Tocchet, Vancouver Canucks (-105)

It's hard to argue anyone but Rick Tocchet deserves to win the Jack Adams Award.

What the Vancouver Canucks have been able to accomplish this season has been nothing short of incredible. Their expectations entering this campaign not only left them on the brink of playoffs but completely out.

Vancouver's expectations made plenty of sense. They finished last season 38-37-7, sitting third to last in the Pacific Division. But Tocchet provided change after Bruce Boudreau was fired last year, and this season has seen the Canucks play at a level that is among the best teams in hockey.

Heading into the NHL All-Star break, the Canucks have a 33-11-5 record. That record leaves them tied for the most points in the NHL at 71, which leads the Western Conference.

It doesn't just stop there for Tocchet's Canucks. Vancouver is second in the NHL scoring-wise, posting 3.76 Goals For per 60 minutes. The same goes for them defensively, as they also rank second with 2.53 Goals Against per 60 minutes.

It's been apparent all season that this team is different, and while they didn't make many additions in the offseason, the belief in Tocchet and his system has allowed the Canucks to finally return to relevance.

He's the heavy favorite at the break, and it's hard to imagine he will be losing that spot as long as the Canucks don't suffer a collapse. Based on their play, we probably don't need to worry much about that.

Rick Bowness, Winnipeg Jets (+450)

Much like the Canucks, the Winnipeg Jets have overcome low expectations to be one of the best teams in the NHL, and it's been thanks to the coaching of Rick Bowness.

The Jets have a 30-12-5 record, leaving them third in the Central Division with 65 points but just two behind the Colorado Avalanche for the division lead. Every time Winnipeg takes the ice, they more often than not outduel their opponents because of elite defense and goaltending.

Through 47 games, the Jets have the ninth-best Corsi Against per 60 minutes (58.02) and an NHL-leading 2.28 Goals Against per 60 minutes. Connor Hellebuyck leads goalies with 20 starts or more in both goals against average (2.20) and save percentage (.924). Bowness has made the Jets a dominant defense that can keep them at the top of the league.

Winnipeg was a playoff team a year ago, however, which is why it'll be tougher for Bowness to take the Jack Adams Award as opposed to Tocchet.

Kris Knoblauch, Edmonton Oilers (+1000)

Going from not coaching a team at the start of the season to the third-best odds to win the Jack Adams Award is certainly a turn, but that's where Kris Knoblauch finds himself as the NHL heads into the break.

Knoblauch has turned around an Edmonton Oilers team that was underwhelming in every way earlier this campaign to now reach preseason expectations. The Oilers opened the year as one of the worst at a 3-9-1 record while watching the opposition score nonstop under Jay Woodcroft. But since Knoblauch has taken over, the Oilers have a 26-6-0 record and are riding a 16-game winning streak into the break -- leaving them as the league's best team since he's taken charge.

The undefeated streak can't last forever, but their offense is back at the elite levels of a season ago (63.52 Corsi For, 3.81 Goals For), and the defense has been better than ever under Knoblauch (54.91 Corsi Against, 2.26 Goals Against). This sets up the Oilers for a run in these last few months that wasn't imaginable after the first few weeks.

If the Canucks fall off in any way, and the Oilers continue to look like the best team in the league following the All-Star break, it's not crazy to think that Knoblauch can unexpectedly take the Jack Adams Award this season. It'll be tricky, but it's not worth ruling out with how good the Oilers have been.

Looking for the latest NHL odds? Head over to FanDuel Sportsbook and check out all of the NHL betting options.

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