Carbery named finalist for Jack Adams Award
Photo credit: Washington Post
Although only in his second year as an NHL head coach, Spencer Carbery is quickly earning a reputation as one of the league's top bench bosses.
Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery named finalist for Jack Adams Award on Friday.
Katie Adler from RMNB writes that On Friday, the NHL revealed that Spencer Carbery is a finalist for the Jack Adams Award, alongside Scott Arniel of the Winnipeg Jets and Martin St. Louis of the Montreal Canadiens. The honor, determined by the NHL Broadcasters' Association, recognizes the top head coach of the regular season.
Leaders behind the bench. 🫡 #NHLAwards
Scott Arniel, Spencer Carbery, and Martin St. Louis have been named as finalists for the Jack Adams Award. The award is given annually «to the coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success."
Scott Arniel, Spencer Carbery, and Martin St. Louis have been named as finalists for the Jack Adams Award. The award is given annually «to the coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success."
Carbery becomes the sixth Capitals head coach to be named a Jack Adams Award finalist since the honor was established in 1973-74. Three Washington coaches have previously won the award: Barry Trotz in 2016, Bruce Boudreau in 2008, and Bryan Murray in 1984.
"After leading the Capitals to an improbable playoff run in his debut season in Washington, Carbery and his team outperformed expectations again to finish with the Eastern Conference's best record in 2024-25 (51-22-9), doing so while adding to a tight-knit team culture that has allowed players to flourish." -Adler
Driven in part by their head coach's relentless competitiveness, the Capitals led the NHL in comeback victories during the 2024-25 season, rallying to win 25 games after falling behind. They ranked second in total goals scored (288) and ninth in goals allowed (232), finishing in a tie for third in the league with a +56 goal differential.
"When the Capitals hired him in May 2023, Carbery was the youngest coach in the NHL at age 41, but he'd already earned hardware for his work in the minor leagues, winning the ECHL's coach of the year award with the South Carolina Stingrays in 2013-14 and the AHL's top honor with the 2020-21 Hershey Bears. If he takes home the Jack Adams next month, he would become the first to ever win coach of the year in all three of North America's top professional leagues." -Adler
Adler also writes that the BC native drew early Jack Adams buzz in his debut season as he guided the Capitals to the playoffs, ultimately placing seventh in the voting with four first-place nods. Following a major roster overhaul last summer, Carbery swiftly earned the trust of his revamped squad, with several players enjoying career-best campaigns under his leadership.
The Capitals are currently in the second-round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, awaiting their matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes.
| POLL | ||
MAI 2 | 65 ANSWERS Carbery named finalist for Jack Adams Award Do you think Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery will win the Jack Adams Award at the end of the season? | ||
| yes | 54 | 83.1 % |
| no | 11 | 16.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
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