In news that should come as no surprise to anyone in the hockey world, Flyers head coach Alain Vigneault has been named a finalist for the Jack Adams Trophy, given to the NHL’s coach of the year.

The job that Vigneault has done since taking the helm of the Flyers cannot be overstated. He’s brought a well-defined system and set of principles to the team, which has been echoed by rookies and veterans alike throughout the season. A strong leading voice and a clear, cohesive plan had long been missing from the head coaching position in Philadelphia.

Vigneault came to town following a catastrophic 37-37-8 season in 2018-19, one which saw the firing of GM Ron Hextall and head coach Dave Hakstol. He righted the ship and established a clear approach to communicating his expectations with his players, specifically each player’s role and how they fit within the team concept. AV has led his team to a 41-21-7 record, good enough for the Top-4 round robin, which comes with a chance at the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

Joining Vigneault as finalists for the Jack Adams trophy are Boston’s Bruce Cassidy and Columbus’ John Tortorella. Cassidy’s Bruins are the lone team in the league to reach 100 points in the regular season. John Tortorella took a team reeling from the offseason free agency losses of Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky to the Rangers and Panthers, respectively, to a postseason berth.

Who am I rooting for? Obviously the guy who came on Snow The Goalie before the season began.

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