### Spencer Carbery Wins Jack Adams Award as NHL Coach of the Year

Spencer Carbery has become the latest Washington Capitals head coach to receive the prestigious Jack Adams Award, which is given annually to the NHL coach who has most contributed to their team's success. This accolade places him alongside three other Capitals coaches who have previously won the award.

Under Carbery's guidance, the Capitals achieved a first-place finish in both the Metropolitan Division and the Eastern Conference during the 2024-25 season. His competition for the award included Scott Arniel of the Winnipeg Jets and Martin St. Louis of the Montreal Canadiens. Carbery received 81 of the 103 first-place votes.

This award adds to Carbery's impressive collection, making him the first coach to win Coach of the Year accolades in the NHL, AHL, and ECHL. His previous honors include the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award with the AHL's Hershey Bears in 2020-21 and the John Brophy Award with the ECHL's South Carolina Stingrays in 2013-14.

In a heartwarming turn, Carbery was surprised with the award during what he believed to be a routine season recap interview. His family, including his wife Casey and their children, along with other close relatives, unexpectedly joined him on set to present the trophy. This touching moment was captured by Monumental Sports Network’s Joe Beninati.

Reflecting on the moment, Carbery expressed his astonishment: "Wow, I had no idea. 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."

This season marked Carbery's second year leading the Capitals, a tenure highlighted by a significant team turnaround. The Capitals improved their record to 51-22-9, winning 50 games for the first time since the 2016-17 season. The team added 20 more standings points than the previous year and saw an impressive 93-goal improvement in goal differential.

Carbery guided the Capitals to their first playoff series win since 2018, achieving a significant victory over the Montreal Canadiens in the first round. Although the team exited in the second round following a loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, Carbery's impact on the team was undeniable.

"In the ultimate team sport, as a coach, anything that directs attention toward you - our support staff and obviously our players, all those people deserve so much credit for this award," Carbery noted, emphasizing the collective effort behind the achievement.

Carbery's accolades are set to be celebrated during the 2025 NHL Awards show, which will honor the top players and coaches from the 2024-25 season. This recognition solidifies Carbery’s status as one of the most impactful coaches in recent NHL history.