Barry Trotz a Finalist for Jack Adams Award

Award nomination season has been kind to the New York Islanders, though the latest trophy finalist announcement is probably the least surprising of all: Barry Trotz is one of three finalists for the Jack Adams Trophy, the NHL’s “coach of the year” award.

The award is based on a poll of members of the NHL Broadcasters’ Association at the end of the regular season.

Trotz, who led a dramatic turnaround for the Islanders including a historic catapult from the most goals allowed in 2017-18 under Doug Weight to the fewest goals allowed in 2018-19, is a shoe-in finalist. The Islanders finished second in the Metropolitan Division, and fifth overall in the NHL — their best regular season rank since 1985-86.

He’s joined by Jon Cooper of the Tampa Bay Lightning, which had a record-tying 62-win regular season, and Craig Berube of the St. Louis Blues, who took over after the first quarter and led a team that was last overall in January to a third-place finish in the Central Division.

Read more about Trotz’s fantastic voyage in the team announcement.