The NHL Awards are starting to roll out there annual finalists for their major awards. We have seen the Ted Lindsay award finalists, and then the Vezina Trophy finalists. Most recently, the Jack Adams award finalists were revealed, and two names will jump right off the page.
Jon Cooper, Dan Muse, and Lindy Ruff are the finalists for the Jack Adams Award! 👏 #NHLAwards
— NHL (@NHL) May 1, 2026
The Jack Adams Award is presented annually to the NHL coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success. pic.twitter.com/cBmlUO184C
One in particular, Lindy Ruff, is a name that many New York Rangers fans should remember. He was an assistant coach for the Rangers from 2017 through 2020, and was a player for the Blueshirts as well in the late 1980s.
Now, Ruff did some bouncing around following his departure from the Rangers, and has now landed in Buffalo. Yes, those Buffalo Sabres that made the playoffs for the first time in 14 years, and defeated the Boston Bruins on Friday night to move on to the second round.
Ruff was a distinct reason why they made it past a once insurmountable feat.
Ruff has the Jack Adams in the bag
Alongside Ruff on the ballot is Dan Muse of Pittsburgh and Jon Cooper of Tampa Bay. Muse is also another former coach of the Rangers, in which he was an assistant from 2023-24 through 2024-25.
Muse had a wonderful season in Pittsburgh with their surprise playoff appearance, and Cooper is an annual finalist for this award with his impeccable run with Tampa Bay. But, Ruff did something with Buffalo that has not been done in nearly a decade and a half, and it took everything for it to happen.
Ruff was a great assistant coach with the Rangers in the Alain Vigneault era. If only the Rangers had held onto him, and what teachings he could give this current group under the guise of Mike Sullivan.
This Jack Adams vote was not going to feature Sullivan whatsoever. If the Olympic gold medal were to be considered, which it is not, then there would be a chance. The Rangers were not great this season, and even an accomplished head coach like Sullivan could not bring this team out of the gutter.
As a former member of this great organization, not once but twice, the Rangers should be pushing for Ruff to take home the coach of the year.
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