Pittsburgh Penguins Head Coach Dan Muse has been named as a finalist for the top coaching award in the NHL.
The Jack Adams Award is given to “the coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team’s success”.
The first-year coach exceeded expert expectations, with many experts expecting the Penguins to end the season toward the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
But, Muse helped coach the Pens to a 41-25-16 record and 98 points this past season propelling Pittsburgh to a second-place finish in the Metropolitan Division and the team’s first playoff appearance in three seasons.
Muse is the third Penguins coach to be nominated for the award. Former coach Dan Bylsma won the award in 2011 and Michel Therrien was nominated in 2007.
Muse is up for the Jack Adams Award along with Sabres coach Lindy Ruff and the Lightning’s Jon Cooper.
If Muse does win, he'll become the 10th first-year coach in history to win the award.
The winner will be named after the Stanley Cup playoffs are over.
