Spencer Carbery of the Washington Capitals was named the winner of the 2024-25 Jack Adams Award on Saturday.
The honor is presented to the NHL coach who is judged to have made the biggest contribution to a team’s success.
While attending what he thought was a season-ending interview, the 43-year-old Carbery was presented with the award by his wife, Casey, and their children, Hudson and Vivian.
‘Wow, I had no idea,’ a clearly stunned and choked-up Carbery said.
If that weren’t emotional enough for Carbery, extended family members from throughout the U.S. and Canada also were there to share in the moment.
Carbery led the Capitals to a 51-22-9 (111 points) record this season as the team finished first in the Eastern Conference in his second season as Washington’s coach.
He got strong seasons out of a host of new players who were acquired in the offseason and improved on the team’s offensive and defensive numbers. He kept the team winning while eventual all-time leading goal Alex Ovechkin missed 16 games with a broken leg.
Carbery becomes the fourth coach in franchise history to win the award, joining Bryan Murray (1983-84), Bruce Boudreau (2007-08) and Barry Trotz (2015-16).
He is also the first person recognized as coach of the year in the ECHL, American Hockey League and NHL.
The members of the NHL Broadcasters’ Association select the Jack Adams winner.
Carbery received 81 first-place votes on the 103 ballots cast and finished with 464 points. Scott Arniel of the Winnipeg Jets had 249 points, followed by Martin St. Louis of the Montreal Canadiens with 66.
The Capitals lost in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, defeated by the Carolina Hurricanes in five games.
Other NHL awards winners
Mark Messier Leadership Award: Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals