A midseason look at 2019-20 NHL Jack Adams Award candidates
By Kyle McKenna
2. Travis Green, Vancouver Canucks
While the Vancouver Canucks were picked as a surprise team by some NHL media members, it’s fair to say that no one predicted that Vancouver would be in first place for the Pacific Division by the middle of January.
Sure, it’s a tight race in the Pacific considering that the fifth-place Vegas Golden Knights are one point behind the Canucks, but the reality is that Vancouver might double its win total from last season after finishing 2018-19 with a 35-35-11 record.
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Speaking of the team’s record, head coach Travis Green is without a doubt up for the 2020 Jack Adams Award and in large thanks to the points mentioned above. Vancouver is one of the biggest surprises in the NHL and the team’s record at 27-18-4 has displayed progression since the bench boss took over in 2017-18.
On the offensive side of the puck, it’s fair to say Green has executed commendable work with youngsters Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser, while Quinn Hughes establishes his case on the team’s back end for the 2020 Calder Trophy.
Let’s not forget that Canucks’ goaltender Jacob Markstrom is a first-time All-Star this season, and it’s possible that Green might have something to do that, too.
The Canucks are arguably one of the most underrated stories in all professional sports at the moment, and their coach is helping the squad rewrite the league’s projections for the 2019-20 Stanley Cup Playoffs. If the postseason started today, then the Canucks would take on the Arizona Coyotes — a matchup that arguably favors Vancouver.
The second half is telling for both Green and the Canucks’ overall praise, but at this rate, the team hasn’t shown notable signs of slowing down. The Canucks’ changing of the guard is just in time for Seattle’s NHL debut, too.