🏒 Jack Adams Award Odds 2026: Cooper Favored to Win his First NHL Coach of the Year

I'm breaking down the latest Jack Adams Award odds, including the cases for the top betting favorites and what we can learn from recent history for who award voters chose as the NHL coach of the year.

Jon Cooper, Lindy Ruff, and Jared Bednar have the shortest odds coming out of the Olympic break.

📊 Jack Adams Award odds

The latest Jack Adams Award odds via DraftKings.

🏆 Who is the Jack Adams Award favorite?

The Lightning's Jon Cooper (+150) is the Jack Adams Award favorite, slightly ahead of the Sabres' Lindy Ruff (+195).

Despite all of his success with Tampa Bay, highlighted by two Stanley Cups, Cooper has never won a Jack Adams Award. He's seen as overdue to be named the NHL's top coach, and this could be the year that happens with his Lightning leading the East on the strength of a 19-1-1 run leading into the Olympic break.

Ruff also has narrative and results on his side. He previously won the Jack Adams during his first stint with Buffalo in 2006, and he has the Sabres on track to make the playoffs for the first time in 15 years - the longest drought in NHL history. Ruff was the bench boss the last time the Sabres mattered, and he's once again righted the ship in his return to Buffalo.

Third currently on the oddsboard is the Avalanche's Jared Bednar (+450). He led Colorado to one of the best starts ever, with just one regulation loss over the team's first 26 games. It isn't surprising that the Avalanche couldn't maintain that pace, but they still lead the league in regulation wins, goals for, and goals against. While his squad certainly has world-class talent, it will be difficult to deny Bednar's impressive coaching if his team paces the NHL in those three categories at the end of the regular season.

🔍 Jack Adams Award history & trends

Here are the last 10 Jack Adams Award winners and where their respective teams finished in their conference that season.

*Teams only played within makeshift divisions in 2020-21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Nine of the 10 previous coaches who won the award finished no worse than third in their conference. The one exception - Trotz with Islanders in 2018-19 - led New York to the playoffs after losing captain and franchise star John Tavares in free agency.

When looking at the five coaches currently with the shortest odds to win the award this season, Cooper (Lightning) and Bednar (Avalanche) have their teams atop their respective conferences. Meanwhile, Ruff (Sabres), Muse (Penguins), and McLellan (Red Wings) are all within two points of the third-place Canadiens in the East, so any of those coaches could finish in the top three of their conference. What recent history has taught us, however, is that whoever falls below that upper echelon will have a difficult time winning the Jack Adams Award in 2026.

🔮 Jack Adams Award prediction

There's nothing Jack Adams Award voters love more than a coach that's orchestrated a team turnaround - especially when it's historic.

The Sabres haven't been to the postseason since 2010-11, and the narrative of Lindy Ruff returning to his old franchise to halt that ineptitude will be too strong to ignore.

While recent history shows voters value coaches whose teams finish top three in their conference, I think they could make a rare exception if the Sabres at least claim one of the Atlantic Division's top three spots. The Atlantic has the reputation of being the league's toughest division (four of the last six Stanley Cup winners), so the road will be more difficult for the Sabres. I'm backing Ruff to be rewarded for accomplishing that feat.

Prediction and best bet: Lindy Ruff to win Jack Adams Award (+195 via DraftKings)

❓ Jack Adams Trophy FAQs

Who is the 2026 Jack Adams Award odds favorite? 

Jon Cooper of the Tampa Bay Lightning is the current Jack Adams Award odds favorite.

Who won last season's Jack Adams Award?

Spencer Carbery, the first-year bench boss for the Washington Capitals, won the 2025 Jack Adams Award.

When will the Jack Adams Award winner be announced?

The Jack Adams Award was given to Spencer Carbery on June 7, 2025. You can expect a similar announcement date for the 2025-26 Jack Adams Award. 

Who has won the most Jack Adams Awards? 

Pat Burns won the award three times (1989, 1993, 1998), the most of any head coach. 

Who votes for the Jack Adams Award?

The Jack Adams Award is voted on by members of the National Broadcasters' Association.

Has anyone won the Jack Adams Award in consecutive seasons?

Jacques Demers won the award with the Detroit Red Wings in 1988 and 1989, the only coach to win the trophy in consecutive seasons.