This award was the one that caused the most head-scratching. The nominees: Alain Vigneault, Dan Bylsma, and Barry Trotz are well enough. Alain, coach of the best team in the league, Dan Bylsma, team loses its two best players and makes the playoffs, and Barry Trotz...Barry Trotz. It seems like every year he is up for the award, which I have nothing against the guy, but give him one already. Its getting a little old.
The absences are the biggest questions on this list. Randy Carlisle did a good job this year, and Todd McLellan also coached a great regular season. One could also make a case for Peter Laviolette took essentially the same team and had a much better regular season.
But the biggest glaring omission has to be Guy Boucher. Tampa finished last season with 80 points, this season they had 103. Yes a lot of that was due to the new GM Steve Yzerman, but Boucher got the stars back on track and was able to incorporate new acquisitions and rookies. The guy was everything Yzerman thought he could be and more.
I think we all know where I stand on Alain. And I think thats obvious since the team has been winning despite his terrible decisions. Also whenever anyone mentions the Canucks, they always mention how great the defense has been under Rick Bowness. So great job Alain, you hired great assistant coaches. Not really award worthy.
Dan Bylsma did a great job as well, but his team had built a decent lead on most of the Eastern Conference when his stars started to drop like flies. They held it together for a good finish to the regular season and was able to get scoring out of everyone on the roster.
Barry Trotz was the same old story: He got a lot out of a little. Like I said its the same every year. Not even going to acknowledge it.
My choice has to be Guy Boucher, and I know its lame because he was not officially nominated, but guess what? I am not going to take nominees overseen by an organization run by Gary Freaking Bettman. Guy Boucher is the clear winner of this award and the fact he is not nominated shows how ridiculous these awards can be.
My choice for the Inaugural Pat Quinn Trophy is of course Rick Bowness. Not so much for my hatred of Alain and his incompetence, but because he did put a patch-work of defenseman together this year, and they performed admirably. He really seemed to know what he had, and what his players were capable of. Congratulations Rick.
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