With only a few games remaining in the regular season, the Montreal Canadiens have already reached 100 points, their most since finishing with 103 in the 2016-17 season.
They are tied with the Buffalo Sabres and two points back of the first-place Tampa Bay Lightning, with onlookers wondering whether the Canadiens will win the Atlantic Division.
So, why isn’t Martin St. Louis among the favourites to be named coach of the year?
Will Canadiens’ Martin St. Louis Win Jack Adams Award?
St. Louis’ Jack Adams Award NHL betting odds are .
Those odds translate to a 1.49% win probability. Compare that to the favourite, Sabres bench boss Lindy Ruff, whose -200 odds represent a 66.67% implied probability.
The Pittsburgh Penguins Dan Muse, the Columbus Blue Jackets Rick Bowness, and the Lightning’s Jon Cooper are also more likely than St. Louis to win the coveted award, according to the hockey odds at the BetMGM online sportsbook.
On the verge of being canned, things were rough for Lindy and his Sabres early in the season.
But Ruff turned things around, orchestrating a 33-6-2 run to clinch Buffalo’s first playoff spot since 2011. So, I’m not questioning Ruff’s Jack Adams Award credentials.
St. Louis’ Impressive Jack Adams Résumé
While he is a deserving front-runner, St. Louis isn’t as far behind as the odds suggest. The Canadiens’ coach has his team well-positioned to make a run at the Atlantic Division crown.
St. Louis transformed the Canadiens from bottom dwellers to division contenders since taking the helm during the 2021-22 season.
We’re not talking about a roster replete with veterans who need little coaching, but the NHL’s second-youngest team, where daily instruction is critical to a player’s development.
The right type of leadership and motivation can mean the difference between boom and bust. St. Louis has achieved the former.
He continually extracts the best from every player, including captain Nick Suzuki, leading goal-scorer Cole Caufield, last season’s Calder Trophy winner Lane Hutson and rookie Ivan Demidov, who would have been a contender for this season’s Calder Trophy had it not been for Matthew Schaefer’s otherworldly campaign.
St. Louis’ 1.49% probability of winning the Jack Adams Award perfectly encapsulates the definition of shortchanged.
As a pessimist-turned-optimist, I’m always looking for silver linings, so here goes. He is far and away the best long shot on the board, offering better value than Walmart’s Black Friday sale.
Unfortunately, long shots rarely take home the bacon. Being overlooked for the award won’t matter much to St. Louis if he can propel the Canadiens to their first Atlantic Division crown in nine years.
It won’t matter at all if he brings the Cup back to Montreal for the first time in 33 years.
Who Is the Favourite to Win Jack Adams Award?
Lindy Ruff is the favourite to win the Jack Adams Award.
Who Won last Year’s Jack Adams Award?
Washington Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery won the Jack Adams Award in 2025.
Has Martin St. Louis Won Jack Adams Award?
No, St. Louis hasn’t won the Jack Adams Award. He took over head coaching duties during the 2021-22 season.
Who Votes for Jack Adams Award?
The NHL Broadcasters’ Association votes for the Jack Adams Award.
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