Spencer Carbery of the Washington Capitals has been named the recipient of the 2024-25 Jack Adams Award, an honor bestowed upon the NHL coach deemed to have contributed the most to his team's success. The award is determined by a vote of the NHL Broadcasters' Association. The league made the announcement Saturday morning, revealing a surprise presentation to Carbery involving his family.
Carbery becomes the fourth head coach in Capitals history to receive the Jack Adams Award, joining Bryan Murray (1983-84), Bruce Boudreau (2007-08), and Barry Trotz (2015-16). His win is particularly noteworthy as he is now the first individual to capture coach of the year honors at the ECHL, AHL, and NHL levels. He previously won the ECHL's John Brophy Award in 2013-14 with the South Carolina Stingrays and the AHL's Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award in 2020-21 with the Hershey Bears.
The second-year Capitals head coach was the clear frontrunner for the award, amassing 81 first-place votes out of 103 ballots, for a total of 464 voting points. Scott Arniel of the Winnipeg Jets finished second with 249 points, receiving 16 first-place votes, while Martin St. Louis of the Montreal Canadiens finished third with 66 points.
Under Carbery's guidance, the Capitals achieved a 51-22-9 record, accumulating 111 points. This performance secured them the No. 2 overall record in the NHL and the top seed in the Eastern Conference for the first time since the 2016-17 season. The team demonstrated significant improvement from Carbery's first season, increasing their point total by 20 – the third-largest gain in the league from 2023-24, trailing only Columbus (+23) and Anaheim (+21).
The Capitals' offense also experienced a remarkable resurgence, improving by 68 goals (including shootout-deciding goals). They climbed from 28th in the league in 2023-24 (220 goals) to second this season (288 goals). Additionally, the team excelled in several key areas, including comeback wins (1st with 25), road points (tied for 1st with 53), goal differential (tied for 3rd with +56), penalty killing (5th with 82.0%), home points (7th with 58), and goals against (9th with 232, including shootout-deciding goals).
Beyond the team's statistical achievements, Carbery's leadership was instrumental in integrating seven new players into the opening night lineup and fostering a cohesive team environment. This was particularly important considering the Capitals' aim to transition into a younger team while remaining competitive. His ability to blend veteran experience with fresh talent proved crucial to the team's success.
Carbery's impact extends beyond the NHL, with his prior success in the ECHL and AHL demonstrating his ability to develop players and build winning teams at all levels. His journey from the ECHL to the NHL is a testament to his dedication and coaching acumen. He also had a playing career in the ECHL from 2007-2010.
The Jack Adams Award is a fitting recognition of Carbery's outstanding contributions to the Washington Capitals and solidifies his place among the league's top coaches. As the Capitals look toward the future, Carbery's leadership will be vital in guiding the team through its ongoing evolution.
