The NHL has announced its finalists for the 2025 Jack Adams Award, presented annually to the coach who has contributed most to his team’s success. This year’s nominees are Scott Arniel of the Winnipeg Jets, Spencer Carbery of the Washington Capitals, and Martin St. Louis of the Montreal Canadiens. All three coaches are first-time finalists, and each played a pivotal role in exceeding expectations during the 2024–25 regular season.

Taking over after Rick Bowness retired, Scott Arniel led the Winnipeg Jets to the NHL’s best regular-season record, earning the franchise its first Presidents’ Trophy. Under Arniel’s leadership, the Jets became a defensive powerhouse, anchored by stellar goaltending and a cohesive team structure. They tied the league lead in wins and consistently shut down high-powered offenses. Arniel kept things steady through injuries and lineup changes, showing a calm, consistent approach behind the bench. Not bad for his first season as the Jets’ head coach.

In just his second season as head coach, Spencer Carbery turned around a Capitals team that had struggled in recent years. Despite losing key veterans and entering the season with modest expectations, Washington surged into playoff contention behind strong special teams, disciplined structure, and revitalized performances from young stars. Carbery’s system helped the Capitals significantly improve their goal differential and overall record. His work earned widespread recognition, including a leading share of first-place votes in midseason polls.

Martin St. Louis has done wonders in turning the Canadiens into a much more competitive and hardworking team. With one of the youngest rosters in the league, Montreal showed major growth in 2024–25. St. Louis’ player-first mindset gave his top prospects the chance to shine and helped build confidence across the board. While the Habs didn’t top the standings, their improvement made them one of the most exciting teams to watch this season. The way St. Louis has built a winning culture—and kept the team competitive—hasn’t gone unnoticed by anyone.

The winner of the 2025 Jack Adams Award will be announced at the NHL Awards later this spring. Each finalist represents a unique coaching journey, but all three have inspired belief and brought excellence to their locker rooms.