Hockey

Jon Cooper Wins 2025-26 Jack Adams Award; Jared Bednar Finishes Fourth

by
Richard Hayes
June 3, 2026

In a closely contested race for the 2025-26 Jack Adams Award, Jon Cooper of the Tampa Bay Lightning emerged victorious, recognized as the Coach of the Year for his significant contributions to his team’s success. The NHLPA released the detailed voting breakdown, showcasing how the top coaches fared in the ballots cast by members of the NHL Broadcasters’ Association.

Cooper secured the prestigious award, which is awarded to the coach deemed to have made the most impact on their team’s performance. The voting system allocated points based on placement, with first-place votes worth five points, second-place votes three, and third-place votes one. Jared Bednar of the Colorado Avalanche finished fourth in the voting, garnering four first-place votes, 13 second-place votes, and seven third-place votes for a total of 66 points.

This season, Bednar faced stiff competition, particularly from Dan Muse of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who turned around a team many believed would struggle and led them to a second-place finish in the Metropolitan Division, breaking a three-year playoff drought. Additionally, Lindy Ruff of the Buffalo Sabers was a strong contender, guiding his team to end a 14-year playoff drought and nearly reaching the Conference Finals after a hard-fought Game 7 against the Montreal Canadiens.

While Cooper took home the award, he faced challenges throughout the season, including injuries that tested his roster. Nonetheless, Cooper’s leadership enabled the Lightning to secure a playoff spot, finishing second in their division before their elimination by the Canadiens. This marks Cooper’s first Jack Adams Award, a recognition many believe has long been overdue.

Bednar’s previous nomination for the Jack Adams came during the 2017-18 season, where he led the Avalanche to a remarkable turnaround, finishing with a 43-30-9 record and earning a playoff berth after a dismal previous season.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.