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Spencer Carbery named Jack Adams Award winner

He is the fourth head coach in franchise history to win NHL's Coach of the Year.
ByMatthew Miguez|
May 10, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Washington Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery walks off the ice after their loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in game three of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
May 10, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Washington Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery walks off the ice after their loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in game three of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images | James Guillory-Imagn Images

For just the fourth time in franchise history, Spencer Carbery was named the winner of the Jack Adams Award on Saturday.

The award is given to the best coach in the National Hockey League.

Carbery, 43, is the first coach in history to win Coach of the Year in all 3 North American leagues, winning the A.R. Pieri Memorial Award in 2020 and the John Brophy Coach of the Year Award in 2013.

Carbery was suprised with the honor when he was set up for a fake interview with Joe Beninati of Monumental Sports Network. During the interview, Carbery's family walked in along with a representative carrying the award.

Carbery is one of the most respected head coaches in the NHL, even though he is one of the youngest. He's loved by many in Washington and has worked his way up the ranks within the Capitals organization, starting with the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL before going coach the Hershey Bears in the AHL and finally landing the top job with the Capitals two seasons ago.

Carbery received 81 of the 103 first place votes, running away with the victory. He received a total of 464 total points, with the next closest being Martin St. Louis of the Montreal Canadiens at 249.

During his time in the district, Carbery has compiled a 91-53-20 record, good for a 61.6% winning percentage.

“Wow, I had no idea,” Carbery said following the announcement surprise. “I was not expecting that. Oh, my gosh. How did everyone travel here? All corners of the continent: Washington state; South Carolina; Victoria, British Columbia; Chicago, Illinois; Green Bay, Wisconsin. For them to come to DC and celebrate this moment with me, I’ll never forget that.”

Carbery beat out Martin St. Louis and Scott Arniel to capture the award given to the coach that “contributed the most to his team’s success."

According to the official press release from the NHL:

Carbery led the Capitals (51-22-9, 111 points) to the No. 2 overall record in the NHL as well as the top seed in the Eastern Conference for the first time since 2016-17. After seeing an 11-point improvement during his first season, Washington jumped 20 points this year – the third-largest gain from 2023-24 behind only Columbus (+23) and Anaheim (+21). The Capitals also boasted a 68-goal improvement in total offense (including shootout-deciding goals), rising from 28th place in 2023-24 (220) to second this season (288). The team additionally finished among the League leaders in comeback wins (1st; 25), road points (t-1st; 53), goal differential (t-3rd; +56), penalty killing (5th; 82.0%), home points (7th; 58) and goals against (9th; 232, including shootout-deciding goals).

The NHL Awards Show is set for June 12.