The Three Finalists
Lindy Ruff of the Buffalo Sabres is one of three finalists for the 2026 Jack Adams Award, joining Jon Cooper of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Dan Muse of the Pittsburgh Penguins. The award is presented annually to the NHL coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success, as determined by a vote of the NHL Broadcasters' Association.
Ruff's Coaching Accomplishments This Season
Ruff guided the Sabres to their first Atlantic Division title since 2010 and their first playoff berth since 2011, ending the longest playoff drought in the four major men's professional sports leagues. The Sabres finished with 109 points, the fifth-highest total in franchise history, and won 50 games, third-best in franchise history. After starting the season in last place in the Eastern Conference on December 9, the Sabres posted a 39-9-5 record from that date forward, posting the most wins and highest points percentage in the NHL during that stretch.
Ruff's Prior Jack Adams History
Ruff won the Jack Adams Award in 2005-06 during his first coaching stint with the Sabres. This is his fifth appearance as a finalist, with previous nominations in 2005-06, 2006-07, 2015-16, and 2022-23 when he coached the New Jersey Devils. Only seven coaches have won the Jack Adams Award multiple times since its introduction in 1973-74.
Competing Finalists' Credentials
Dan Muse led the Pittsburgh Penguins to a second-place finish in the Metropolitan Division despite projections they would miss the playoffs, and the team finished with the third-most goals in the league. Jon Cooper, a two-time Stanley Cup champion and the longest-tenured active coach in the NHL, led the Lightning to their ninth consecutive playoff appearance and a second-place finish in the Atlantic Division, with their first 50-win season since 2021-22, though he has never won the Jack Adams Award despite being a finalist twice.
Timeline to Winner Announcement
The finalists were announced on May 1, 2026. The winner of the Jack Adams Award will be announced in June 2026. 
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