Feb 16, 2013; Toronto, ON, Canada; Ottawa Senators center Mika Zibanejad (93) and right wing Daniel Alfredsson (11) and head coach Paul MacLean look on from the bench against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs beat the Senators 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

Daniel Alfredsson continued to demonstrate the respect he has earned around the league and came away with the Mark Messier Bridgestone Leadership Award.

Meanwhile, Alfredsson’s coach, Paul Maclean, took home the Jack Adams award for the Coach of the Year.  It should come as no surprise that he wins, as I said in my awards preview it was the  biggest no-brainer among all of the awards.

May 14, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Ottawa Senators right wing Daniel Alfredsson (11) handles the puck against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period in game one of the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the CONSOL Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Other awards winners included Jonathan Toews (Selke), Josh Harding (Masterton), Ray Shero (GM of the Year), Martin St. Louis (Lady Byng), Henrik Zetterberg (NHL Foundation) and Patrice Bergeron (King Clancy).

As for SenShot’s predictions, we didn’t fare too badly.  We were right on the money for the Messier, Adams, GM, Masterton and Lady Byng.  We had picked Pavel Datsyuk for the Selke instead of Toews. So we can pat ourselves on the back for being on the same page as the voters.

The “Big” Awards, Hart, Lindsay, Norris and Vezina will be presented on CBC and NBC Sports prior to Saturday night’s Stanley Cup Final Game 2, airing at 7:00.

So  we continue on with the awarding of our own awards prior to finding out who wins.  We have already awarded theNorris,  Vezina, Calder,  Selke, Lady Byng, Messier, GM of the Year and Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.  Today we honour the best the men behind the Bench.

THE JACK ADAMS AWARD

AWARDED TO:  “the NHL coach judged to have contributed the most to his team’s success.” – NHL.com

VOTED BY:  NHL Broadcasters Association

THE NOMINEES ARE:

BRUCE BOUDREAU: After taking over in December of 2011 and not being able to get the Ducks into a playoff position, Bruce Boudreau made up for that, guiding Anaheim to a stellar season where they finished second in the West to the Blackhawks. He won the Jack Adams with the Capitals in 2008.

PAUL MACLEAN:  For the second year in a row, Paul MacLean worked magic with the Ottawa Senators.  Last season he was a nominee in his first year as an NHL head coach by guiding a team that most predicted to finish dead last into the playoffs.  This season, he again led his team to the postseason despite an incredible rash of long-term injuries to 4 of the club’s top 5 players.

JOEL QUENNEVILLE:  A record setting start to the season and a President’s Trophy are the highlights of Joel Quenneville‘s season at the helm of the Chicago Blackhawks.  Quenneville also won the Jack Adams as coach of the President’s Trophy winning St. Louis Blues in 2000.

AND THE WINNER IS:

May 24, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Ottawa Senators head coach Paul MacLean gestures on the bench against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the third period in game five of the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Pittsburgh Penguins won 6-2 to close out the series. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

In unanimous fashion, and perhaps with a little bias, SenShot selects Paul MacLean as the winner of the Jack Adams. When everyone had the Senators written off at various points during the season, MacLean (with the help of Daniel Alfredsson) willed the team to carry on and despite a couple of down times they didn’t miss a beat.  At one point more than half of the Senators already low payroll was on the IR, and the club still qualified for the post-season.  If he doesn’t win the award, there is something wrong with the system.  This should be the biggest no-brainer short of giving the Masterton to Josh Harding.