We’re drawing closer to the NHL playoffs and the announcement of the NHL Jack Adams Award, given to the league’s best coach. At prediction market Kalshi, Lindy Ruff currently leads the rest, with an implied probability of winning of 61%.
However, there’s no guarantee that Ruff will take home the trophy, as Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Copper has seen a strong market following, despite dipping to 34% at the time of writing. In this guide, we’ll take you through the top contenders and give you a step-by-step breakdown on how to make this trade at Kalshi.
The NHL Jack Adams Award will be announced on the 2nd June 2026 and all NHL coaches are in contention. At the moment, the two leaders in this market at Kalshi are Lindy Ruff and Jon Cooper but Dan Muse, Travis Green, Marco Sturm, Rick Tocchet and Martin St. Louis are also featured, although all have an implied probability of winning below 10%.
Here’s how prediction market Kalshi views each nominee’s chances of winning the Jack Adams Award:
Following a decisive win over the Red Wings, Lindy Ruff’s Buffalo Sabres are officially into the 2026 playoffs. Following a drought of epic proportions, Ruff’s team has progressed for the first time since 2010-2011. Lindy Ruff has already won the Jack Adams Award once (in 2006), but as the coach to finally get the Sabres out of their slump, he is considered the frontrunner for the 2026 award.
Coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Jon Cooper, has twice been a Jack Adams Award finalist but hasn’t won. Cooper’s Tampa Bay is in the top three in the league for both goals scored and goals saved, so he could be in the running again.
The first-year head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Dan Muse wasn’t expected to make much of an impact this season. However, he’s managed to win over the veteran players and is close to reaching the playoffs.
Lindy Ruff and Jon Cooper are the main options for the Jack Adams Award but there are many other nominees, including Rick Bowness of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Travis Green of the Ottawa Senators.
As we head towards the playoffs, we’ve been monitoring the market movements for this contract:
As the season has progressed, Ruff’s chances of winning have grown from 7% to more than 60% as the Sabres drew closer to clinching their playoff spot.
Jon Cooper’s chances of winning the Jack Adams Award have fluctuated significantly since this market opened in October 2025. He reached a high of 66% in February 2025 but has since slipped back to 34%.
Shock winners of the Jack Adams Award are rare, as the award is decided based on the whole season. That makes it easier to consistently monitor each coach’s chances.
Typically, the coaches of teams who are expected to do well before the season begins do not win the Jack Adams Award. Instead, coaches who have helped struggling teams dramatically turn around their performance have more usually been the winners. If this is the case, we can expect Lindy Ruff to clinch the Award in 2026.
One of the best prediction market apps, Kalshi has extensive coverage across the Jack Adams Award. To make your pick, just follow these steps:
Check out the table below for the leading Jack Adams Award contenders at Kalshi, including each one’s implied probability of winning and Yes/No prices:
| Nominee | Chance | ‘Yes’ price | ‘No’ price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lindy Ruff | 61% | $0.63 | $0.39 |
| Jon Cooper | 34% | $0.35 | $0.66 |
| Dan Muse | 4% | $0.03 | $0.98 |
| Travis Green | 4% | $0.03 | $0.99 |
| Marco Sturm | 2% | $0.03 | $0.98 |
Veteran coach Lindy Ruff looks set to be the number one pick for the NHL Jack Adams Award in 2026. He has a current implied probability of winning of 61%, the highest by far among the contenders at Kalshi, and has ended the longest dry season in NHL history. However, as the playoffs begin, we could see other coaches come to the fore, so it’s important to continue to monitor your picks as we draw closer to the final stages of the playoffs.
To make your trade, you can click on the banners on this page to go directly to Kalshi. Register in minutes and head to the NHL section to make your choice.
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