The results are in and based on performing above expectations, it’s really not all that surprising. The Washington Capitals spent much of the 2024-25 campaign in a race for the Presidents’ Trophy and today head coach Spencer Carbery was rewarded for his team’s performance and was named the 2025 Jack Adams Award recipient. Give credit, where credit is due, and it is widely recognized that Carbery was the correct choice for the award. So, let’s discuss how it came to be for Carbery and the Capitals.
Beautiful moment for Spencer Carbery as he’s surprised by his family and #allcaps with the 2025 Jack Adams Award as coach of the year.
All of those stops along the way, leading you to right where you’re supposed to be.pic.twitter.com/xgXgjxUn9w
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) June 7, 2025
Capitals Head Coach Spencer Carbery Captures Jack Adams Award
Carbery’s playing career consisted of a couple good college seasons that included back-to-back 20-goal campaigns at St. Norbert College of the NCHA. Moreover, as he transitioned to the professional ranks, his playing career never took off. He spent most of his time in the ECHL. This included his final two seasons of his playing career where he captured the ECHL crown with the South Carolina Stingrays in 2009. That was notable because the year after he quit playing, he spent the year as an assistant coach with the Stingrays. The following season, 2011-12, would mark his first of five seasons as the Stingrays head coach. This was his beginning in his coaching career.
Spencer Carbery’s NHL Coaching Career Record
Carbery has been in coaching ever since. His big break was being a member of Sheldon Keefe‘s staff with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Beginning in 2021-22, he spent two seasons as a Leafs assistant coach. Then, his really big break happened, as he was named head coach of the Caps to begin the 2023-24 season.
As Spencer Carbery is rewarded with the 2025 Jack Adams Award, his resume with the Caps is impressive. Overall in two seasons his point percentage is .616, making the playoffs each occasion. This most recent campaign that saw him earn the reward, the Caps had 111 points, good for a .677 point percentage. For a Caps team that didn’t enter with high expectations, they had a tremendous season.
Known for having his team well prepared to make creative plays to break through the neutral zone, the Caps had a successful offence. They finished second in the league in goals for (286) and fourth in goal differential (+57). Also, it was highlighted by Alex Ovechkin becoming the NHL’s all-time goal-scoring leader. Unfortunately, the playoffs didn’t quite turn out how they would’ve liked. After getting by the underdog Montreal Canadiens in round one, they bowed out of round two of the 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs versus the Carolina Hurricanes.
Despite the finish, Carbery earned his silverware for having the Caps play so much above expectations in the regular season. This should do wonders for his coaching resume and down the road, as he looks to be a successful coach at the NHL level for years to come. Washington is certainly lucky to have him.
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
The post The NHL Announces the Winner of the 2025 Jack Adams Award appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.