An NHL.com panel of voters is predicting Columbus Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella will win the Jack Adams Award for the league's top coach this season, while his goalie, Sergei Bobrovsky, will walk away with the Vezina Trophy, given annually to the NHL's top goaltender.
Tortorella earned 59 points from the panel, 15 more than Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock.
The panel cited the Blue Jackets impressive response to an 0–2–0 start, when they went 12–3–4 over their next 19, the franchise's record 16-game winning streak, the lack of a superstar forward – instead, relying on a strong and deep cast of solid players – and Bobrovsky's steady work in the net, which all contributed to a 32-point jump for the team over the previous season.
Going from 15th in the Eastern conference to third the following season will win a coach the Adams Award more times than not.
As for Bobrovsky, the star goalie went 41–17–5 with a 2.06 goals-against average, a .931 save percentage and seven shutouts, spearheading Columbus' massive turnaround.
“Bob” as he's affectionately known in Columbus, led the league in goals-against average and save percentage, while finishing third in the NHL in shutouts.
He led voting in the NHL.com panel with 70 points, easily besting Washington's Braden Holtby, who finished second with 52 points.
The winners will be announced at the NHL's annual awards event this June in Las Vegas.
