Toronto, Ontario (My Sportsbook) - Jacques Lemaire of the Minnesota Wild has been honored with the Jack Adams Award as the coach of the year in the National Hockey League. Lemaire, who also won the award in 1994 with the Devils, led the Wild to a 22-point improvement over the 2001-2002 season. The other finalists were Ottawa's Jacques Martin and the Tampa Bay Lightning's John Tortorella. Martin won the award in 1999 and was an Adams finalist for the fourth time in seven years. His Senators won the Presidents' Trophy as the NHL's top regular-season club. Tortorella was a first-time nominee and led the Lightning to the playoffs for the first time since 1995-96. |
