The NHL Awards season is upon us. Last night's announcement of the Jack Adams Award finalists again reminds me that this is the ultimate in "what have you done for us lately."  The 2022 winner was Darryl Sutter, in case you forgot.  And from the past ten seasons, no Jack Adams winner has lasted in his job for more than two seasons after being honored.  (Rod Brind'Amour, 2021 winner, seems poised to become the exception.)  Maybe an acknowledgment for the longest-tenured coaches would be appropriate. Jon Cooper, Mike Sullivan, Jared Bednar – five Stanley Cup championships in the past seven years, no awards – Sullivan hasn't been a finalist despite taking over a team 10th in the Eastern Conference and doing the "Craig Berube sea change" three seasons before Berube. At least Berube was a finalist. And Cooper's omission is criminal, in my humble opinion.

My points are two. 1) The coaches should vote for the best coach, not the NHL Broadcasters Association, making this more like the Ted Lindsay Award for players. 2) Coach Brind'Amour should watch his back (sic). With a goaltending turnover coming for the Canes, who knows?  But Stanley Cup wins DO help your job security, or at least your resume (eh, Barry Trotz?)

The DraftKings site rules change for a one-game DFS night.  You choose one "captain," whose fantasy points are worth 150% (but they cost 150% more, too), and five flex players.  I'll pass over Leon Draisaitl tonight, figuring it's Connor McDavid's (($11,400) turn to run wild – but my captain will be Ryan Nugent-Hopkins ($12,300).  Stuart Skinner ($9800) to shut down the Knights, Evan Bouchard ($7600) for the power-play assists, and Klim Kostin ($2000), inexplicably cheap after scoring twice in the series-clincher against the Kings.  League blocks leader Alec Martinez ($5800) is my required token opposition entry.   

Thus far, the East has two 2-0 series. I'm thinking the West will have two matchups tied at 1-1.  Good weekend luck to all!