MacLean, Boudreau and Quenneville Nominated For Jack Adams

The Jack Adams Award is given annual to the coach adjusted to be most influential to his team's success. This year's finalists have been announced, let's take a look at the nominees.

Paul MacLean - Ottawa Senators: The Senators struggled though some serious injuries this year to players such as Jason Spezza and Erik Karlsson, causing them to insert 14 rookies into the line-up over the course of the season. However, MacLean proved to be more than just a good coach, but also a good teacher as many of those rookies were able to adjust to his system easily and find success. MacLean led Ottawa to a 25-17-6 record and also a second straight playoff spot. This is MacLean's second straight nomination since taking over the Senators two years ago.

Bruce Boudreau - Anaheim Ducks: It wasn't long ago when Boudreau was run out of Washington, the scapegoat for an amazing team that couldn't get it done in they playoffs. He found a new home in Anaheim and proved to the hockey world he was still a great coach. Boudreau took a Ducks team with the same essential core of players that finished 25th overall last season to their best season ever, finishing 3rd overall and winning the Pacific division. Their 30-12-6 record was a dramatic improvement over last season. Boudreau previously won the Adams in 2008 with the Capitals.

Joel Quenneville - Chicago Blackhawks: It's hard to argue against the coach of the best team in the NHL getting nominated. The Blackhawks were simply dominant this season, winning the President's Trophy with a 36-7-5 record, including a record run of 24 games to start the season in which they earned a point. Often times it's thought that the coach of the best team in the league doesn't get the credit he deserves because of the players on is roster, but Quenneville made smart moves all season with his roster that greatly improved their opportunities for success. This could be the second win for Quenneville, his first coming way back in 2000 with the St. Louis Blues.

Prediction: With respect to Mike Babcock, who wasn't nominated, Quenneville is probably the best coach in hockey right now. But this award generally goes to the coach of the team that would be completely lost without him. MacLean did some wonderful things in Ottawa this year, but the turnaround in Anaheim is simply too large to ignore and Boudreau should get his second career Adams as a result.