THE RIGHT CALL

BY MIKE RIFKIN

With the Stanley Cup Final being played, it also means that it’s award season across the NHL. The latest award that was handed out was the Jack Adams (Coach Of The Year) and it was given to Lightning coach Jon Cooper. Cooper edged out Lindy Ruff of the Sabres and Dan Muse of the Penguins to win his first Jack Adams. 

I know most people wanted this award to go to Lindy Ruff for the Sabres ending their 14 year drought. But, I think the voters got this right, while Cooper is considered by many including myself to be the best coach in the league, this year he proved it. Victor Hedman played in 33 games, Ryan Mcdonagh played in 48, Erik Cernak played in 61, we are talking about half of the defense missing significant time. And in that time players like JJ Moser and Darren Raddysh (who is about to get paid this summer) stepped up in bigger roles than they’d ever had before. Jon Cooper gets what I call the “Steve Kerr treatment” meaning we don’t appreciate the job he does, because of the roster he has. 

Lindy Ruff did a tremendous job this season in turning the Sabres around, and they’ll be around for a while, but don’t get this mixed up the thing that changed the Sabres season was the firing of Kevyn Adams. Now, this is no disrespect to Ruff, who has a place in Toronto waiting for him (hockey hall of fame, not the Leafs job) he has the fourth most wins for a coach in NHL history. Also the Atlantic Division had five coaches voted in the top eight which is just insane.