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Lindy Ruff Finalist After Sabres Secure Atlantic Title

5/2/2026

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Summary

Ruff Finalist Coach

Lindy Ruff was named a finalist for the NHL Jack Adams Award on May 1, 2026, alongside Dan Muse and Jon Cooper.
Lindy Ruff guided the Buffalo Sabres to an Atlantic Division title with 109 points, 50 wins, and a league-best .783 points percentage after a 10-game streak.
If Lindy Ruff wins, Lindy Ruff would join eight coaches who have captured the award more than once.

Summary

Ruff Favored

Kalshi rates Lindy Ruff at 89% to win his second Jack Adams Award, with Jon Cooper at 7% and Dan Muse at 2%.
Jon Cooper, a two-time Stanley Cup champion and three-time finalist, has never won the award and would be the Lightning’s second coach to capture it.
Dan Muse’s first-year nomination makes him the first rookie head coach since Patrick Roy in 2013-14 to be a Jack Adams finalist.

History

Historical Context

The Jack Adams Award honors the NHL’s coach of the year, and Pat Burns remains the only coach to win it three times, each in his first season with a new team. His 1997 triumph with the New Jersey Devils set a benchmark that echoes in Lindy Ruff’s 2026 finalist run after leading Buffalo to 109 points.

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Ruff Finalist Coach

Lindy Ruff was named a finalist for the NHL Jack Adams Award on May 1, 2026, alongside Dan Muse and Jon Cooper.
Lindy Ruff guided the Buffalo Sabres to an Atlantic Division title with 109 points, 50 wins, and a league-best .783 points percentage after a 10-game streak.
If Lindy Ruff wins, Lindy Ruff would join eight coaches who have captured the award more than once.

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