NHL reveals Cassidy, Vigneault, Tortorella as finalists for Jack Adams Award

Former NHL tough guy Stu "Grim Reaper" Grimson joins SN 590 The FAN to explain why he thinks the Columbus Blue Jackets will be the toughest play-in opponent for the Maple Leafs, who have to enter the series with their eyes wide open.

Head coaches Bruce Cassidy of the Boston Bruins, John Tortorella of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Alain Vigneault of the Philadelphia Flyers are the three finalists for the 2019-20 Jack Adams Award, the NHL announced Wednesday.

The winner will be revealed during the conference finals.

Cassidy led the Bruins to the best record in the NHL and the Presidents’ Trophy as the top regular-season team. Boston was among the class of the NHL in a number of categories, including fewest goals allowed (first), power-play percentage (second) and penalty-kill percentage (third).

This is the second time Cassidy has been a finalist for the award, also earning the recognition in 2017-18.

Tortorella steered the Blue Jackets through a season in which they greatly exceeded expectations. After losing a number of key pieces last off-season, Columbus overcame injuries to numerous players throughout the season, including forwards Josh Anderson, Cam Atkinson and Oliver Bjorkstrand, defencemen Seth Jones and Zach Werenski, and goalie Joonas Korpisalo.

A two-time Jack Adams Award winner and a finalist for the award for the fifth time, Tortorella could join Pat Burns as the only coaches to win it three times.

 
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Vigneault coached Philadelphia to the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference and a berth in the playoffs in his first season at the helm. The Flyers had four winning streaks of at least four games and won nine straight from Feb. 18-March 7.

The 59-year-old won the award during his tenure with the Vancouver Canucks, and is now a five-time finalist.

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