Washington Capitals' Spencer Carbery Wins NHL Coach of Year

Spencer Carbery, head coach of the Washington Capitals, won the 2024-2025 Jack Adams Award as the NHL's coach of the year after leading the team to an Eastern Conference-best 111 points and a 51-22-9 record, marking a significant 20-point improvement from the previous season. Carbery is the first coach in professional hockey history to win coach of the year honors in the ECHL, AHL, and NHL, having previously won awards in those leagues with Capitals affiliates. His leadership helped the Capitals win a Stanley Cup Playoff series for the first time since 2018, and he received overwhelming support in the voting, securing nearly 80% of first-place votes. The award was presented to Carbery in a surprise ceremony with his family, highlighting his personal and professional achievements. Capitals General Manager Chris Patrick praised Carbery's growth and self-evaluation from his first to second year as head coach, emphasizing the strong relationship between players and coaching staff. Carbery, who played junior hockey in Penticton early in his career, expressed humility about the honor, underscoring that the ultimate goal remains winning the Stanley Cup.