LeBrun: Rick Tocchet could be dark horse Jack Adams Award vote-getter
Feb 1, 2019, 10:17 AM
Arizona Coyotes head coach Rick Tocchet talks with referee Steve Kozari (40) during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
There’s a bit of irony in the way the Coyotes’ season has gone.
On the one hand, there’s reason to be frustrated: “Everyone is injured,” one might say, when asked about the state of the Coyotes. They’re also only six points better than last place in the Western Conference.
But on Friday morning, Arizona is only two points out of a playoff spot.
“It’s a been a fun year to be part of to be honest with you, as odd as that might sound with all the injuries,” general manager John Chayka told Pierre LeBrun in The Athletic. “It seems like the more adversity we’ve gotten, the better we’ve played and the more we’ve dug in. It’s a big credit to Rick Tocchet and his staff.
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“He doesn’t shy away from adversity, he embraces it. This could have gone the other way on us, guys could have felt sorry for themselves, looked at our roster and said ‘How how does this work?’ But they’ve done the opposite and they’ve wanted to prove something.’’
LeBrun’s column was centered around Tocchet’s place in the conversation for the Jack Adams Award, given to the league’s top head coach each year. LeBrun noted that New York Islanders coach Barry Trotz, who led the Washington Capitals to a Stanley Cup Championship last season, is the runaway candidate, barring a collapse by the Isles.
However…
But let’s at least consider this as far as other candidates in the running: What if the team that leads the NHL in man games lost to injury somehow made the playoffs?
I mean, seriously, what Rick Tocchet is doing with the Arizona Coyotes isn’t getting nearly enough attention.
…
Odds are these injuries will end up finally catching up and the Coyotes will miss out. But if this under-the-radar story somehow produces a miracle playoff spot? Pencil in Tocchet for at least a top-3 vote in the Jack Adams Award race.
LeBrun also pointed out that the Coyotes lead the NHL in a projection that states how many points in the standings each team has lost due to injuries, per ManGamesLost.com.
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