Blackhawks Daily: Adams Nominees; Canucks Move On; IceHogs Fall

Every year, the Jack Adams Award is an intriguing one. Will it go to a coach who’s team dominated all season long or will it go to a coach who had a playoff appearance despite low expectations? On Friday, we learned of this year’s nominees. Rick Bowness of the Winnipeg Jets, Rick Tocchet of the Vancouver Canucks, and Andrew Brunette of the Nashville Predators are your guys this season. One of them will win but they all deserve it.

Also on Friday, Tocchet’s Canucks moved on a Pius Suter game winner.

The Jets (Bowness) were supposed to fall off a little bit but they got Mark Scheifele and Connor Hellebyuck extended so a great year followed. The Canucks (Tocchet) were a bubble playoff team at best coming into this season and they ended up winning the Pacific Division. The Predators (Brunette) had a similar season as Vancouver without the division title (expected to be a bubble team barely but easily made the playoffs).

One notable omission is Spencer Carbery of the Washington Capitals. They were expected to be borderline bad and they kind of were but they found a way to make the playoffs anyway. Carbery did something well this season because the Capitals exceeded everyone’s expectations.

The playoff recap shows the Canucks squeaked by in the final two minutes with the marker. They move on while Nashville goes home.

In the second game, the Vegas Golden Knights played game six of their series. With a 3-2 series lead, the Stars had a chance to put Vegas away.

Just when you think Vegas is done, however, they prove you wrong. These two teams also played a very tight game that went into the third period tied 0-0. It was Noah Hanifin who broke the tie with his second goal of the playoffs. Mark Stone added one into the empty net and Vegas forced game seven.

In Blackhawks prospects action, the IceHogs fell in overtime to the Grand Rapids Griffins. Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen was there to cover it and chronicled Drew Commesso’s 19-save first period–which was perfect through the first frame.

Blackhawks In Case You Missed It

• Lukas Reichel saw a bit of a revival after his reboot in Rockford. Will it continue?
• Jarred Tinordi played a depth role for the Chicago Blackhawks in 2023-24. He was serviceable to them.
• The Chicago Blackhawks could trade volume for value this off-season. Kyle Davidson has a lot of options.
• Nick Foligno was an incredible player for the Chicago Blackhawks this season. His contributions on and off the ice can’t be overshadowed.

Hockey Now Playoff Focus

• Boston Hockey Now: The Boston Bruins are in danger of choking a 3-1 lead again. They will play game seven against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
• Colorado Hockey Now: The Colorado Avalanche have a few days off ahead of their next series in round number two.
• Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The Pittsburgh Penguins made a big coaching decision following another year without the playoffs.