John Tortorella named a finalist for Jack Adams Award as NHL's Top Coach

Columbus Blue Jackets Head Coach John Tortorella has been named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award, presented annually to the NHL's coach of the year as voted on by the National Hockey League Broadcasters' Association, the club and League announced today. Bruce Cassidy of the Boston Bruins and Alain Vigneault of the Philadelphia Flyers are the other two finalists. This season marks the fifth time Tortorella has been named a finalist for the award as he won it in 2016-17 with Columbus and 2003-04 with the Tampa Bay Lightning and was runner-up in both 2002-03 (Tampa Bay) and 2011-12 (New York Rangers).

Tortorella led the Blue Jackets to a 33-22-15 record (81 pts.) in 70 games in 2019-20, leading the club into the postseason during a campaign in which Columbus led the NHL with 419 man games lost due to injury and following a season in which the club's top scorer and starting goaltender in 2018-19 left the club via free agency. The Blue Jackets' .579 points percentage this season is the fourth-best in franchise history.

Tortorella, who was named head coach of the Blue Jackets on Oct. 21, 2015, has led the club to a 209-140-42 record (.588 points percentage) in 391 regular season games and owns franchise records for most wins and highest points percentage. On Dec. 18, 2016, he became the first U.S.-born coach and the 24th in NHL history to record 500 career victories in a 4-3 overtime victory at Vancouver.

The Boston-native is the winningest U.S.-born coach in NHL history as he has compiled a 655-515-157 record (.553 pts. percentage) in 1,327 games with Columbus, Vancouver, NY Rangers and Tampa Bay. He currently leads all U.S.-born coaches in NHL wins and on Jan. 10, 2019 became the 19th coach in NHL history to post 600 career victories in a 4-3 overtime win vs. Nashville.

Tortorella won his second Jack Adams Award in 2016-17 after leading Columbus to the best season in club history with a 50-24-8 record (108 pts., .659 pts. percentage), which was the fourth-best record in the NHL that season. He also won the award in 2003-04 after leading the Tampa Bay Lightning to a 46-22-14 record, Southeast Division title and Stanley Cup championship. He was runner-up in 2002-03 after guiding Tampa Bay to the first division title in club history with a 36-25-21 mark and in 2011-12 with the New York Rangers, whom he led to an Atlantic Division title with a 51-24-7 record.

The winners of the 2020 NHL Awards will be revealed during the Conference Finals, with exact dates, format and times to be determined.