Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour is a finalist for the NHL’s top coaching award

In his third year as an NHL head coach, the Carolina Hurricanes’ Rod Brind’Amour is a finalist for the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year.

Brind’Amour was named a finalist Friday with Joel Quenneville of the Florida Panthers and Dean Evason of the Minnesota Wild. The winner will be announced during the Stanley Cup semifinals or the Stanley Cup finals.

Brind’Amour, the captain of Carolina’s 2006 Stanley Cup champions, has taken the Canes to the Stanley Cup playoffs in each of his three seasons as head coach. The Canes reached the Eastern Conference finals in 2019 — Carolina’s first playoff appearance since 2009 — and were beaten this season in the second round by the Tampa Bay Lightning, the 2020 Cup champion.

“He’s a great coach,” Canes captain Jordan Staal said Friday. “He’s got it figured out. He knows how to push the buttons and get the best out of everyone. He’s a guy I look up to in all aspects of life.”

The Canes won the Central Division and defeated the Nashville Predators in the opening round of the playoffs. Brind’Amour’s nomination comes as he attempts to finalize a new contract extension with the Hurricanes.

Peter Laviolette was the team’s most recent Jack Adams finalist in 2005-06. Laviolette lost out that year to the Sabres’ Lindy Ruff.

The Jack Adams Award is presented by the National Hockey League Broadcasters Association.

(This is a developing story)