The award almost always goes to a coach who helped convert a non-playoff team with low expectations into a playoff team but I'm going to go with Mike Babcock anyway.
I think he is the best coach in the league – at the very least, he belongs in the conversation – and he has somehow never won the Jack Adams.
If the Leafs are as successful as people expect them to be, he's going to get a ton of hype in a hockey-crazed market like Toronto.
My darkhorse honorable mentions are Rod Brind'Amour and Mike Yeo. I expect both Carolina and St. Louis to somewhat comfortably make the playoffs after disappointing seasons. If they do, those coaches will get their share of votes.
Sean Maloughney
My Jack Adams pick will go to whatever team did not make the playoffs last season and performs extremely well this year due to a goaltender with an unsustainable Sv%. Of the last 8 Jack Adams winners, only two; Torts and Gallant remain with the same team.
Coaches play a huge role in the success of a team but like other awards, the interpretation for "best coach" leaves much to be desired. I'll pick Bob Boughner of the Florida Panthers because I feel like they are going to be the hot team this year.