LAS VEGAS (AP) — St. Louis’ Ken Hitchcock has won his first Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s best coach after his midseason turnaround of the Blues.
Hitchcock beat out Ottawa’s Paul MacLean and the New York Rangers’ John Tortorella for the award.
Hitchcock went 43-15-11 while dramatically changing the Blues’ fortunes after replacing the fired Davis Payne in November. The Blues roared to the Central Division title and the second seed in the Western Conference playoffs, beating San Jose in the first round before getting swept by the Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings.
Hitchcock won the Cup with the Dallas Stars in 1999. He also coached Philadelphia and Columbus before moving to St. Louis.
Hitchcock was nominated for the Adams Trophy for the fourth time.
