C’mon, Alanah. Pull off your ‘Nucks sweater for a second.

With all due respect to Vigneault, his success last year could be almost entirely attributed to the fact that he wrote in “R. Luongo” on a starting lineup card 75(!) times.

And do I need to remind you that the Adams is voted on by the NHL Broadcasters’ Association? They love to vote for the new guy, the good interview, etc. How else do you explain awards to such coaching luminaries as Bob Francis, Mark Crawford, Bill Barber, Don Cherry, and so on? First-year coaches should be ineligible as far as I’m concerned.

Scotty Bowman only won it twice, Al Arbour once...that’s about all you need to know about the Adams award.

Posted by shep from california on 10/10/07 at 05:00 PM ET

“C’mon, Alanah. Pull off your ‘Nucks sweater for a second.”

Ha! It’s true, my ‘Nucks jersey is always on (and mine has Luongo’s name on it, incidentally).

I also won’t argue that Vigneault’s success could be largely attributed to one player.  But I also think that’s why he won the award - one player and a cast of extras (was the general perception, anyway) and yet still he made the team into the NW Division champs.

Anyway, they’re all fine coaches. It was just a stray thought I had when I read the rankings.

Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 10/10/07 at 05:17 PM ET

Gretzky at #28?  I guess Burnside’s man-crush is over.  It was only a couple years ago that he wrote,

In the face of widespread skepticism from many—including close friends, other coaches and the media—Coach Gretzky has followed the same other-worldly career arc that defined him as a player.

That still cracks me up…

Posted by The Forechecker from Tennessee on 10/10/07 at 05:46 PM ET

Awesome find, TF!

Posted by shep from california on 10/10/07 at 05:54 PM ET

There are a lot of coaches whose teams show a lot of talent very high on that list. I don’t doubt they’re good coaches, but it’s a lot easier to get good results with good ingredients. I’m more impressed with Nolan for what he has been doing with less talent and quickly. Same goes for Andy Murray.

I don’t blame anyone for putting Hanlon that low on the list, but I think he’s gonna rise in most people’s eyes after this season.

Posted by false_cause from DC on 10/10/07 at 05:59 PM ET

Babcock is too low. Way too low, actually. I wouldn’t put him any lower than #3.

A top 5 without Tippett and Trotz is silly.

Quenneville is too high. Way too high. Quenneville at 16 and Keenan at 30 is a complete farce.

Quenneville should be #29, with only Wayne Gretzky breaking his fall at #30.

Posted by Thomas on 10/11/07 at 12:13 AM ET