Lindy Ruff has his priorities in order.
The Dallas Stars head coach said he'd rather win Game 6 against the St. Louis Blues on Monday than be considered for the Jack Adams Award, for which he was named a finalist Thursday.
"I’m in the same category as (Stars captain) Jamie (Benn) when it comes to that. I’ll trade it for tomorrow’s game," Ruff told Mark Stepneski of the club's official website.
Benn was named a finalist for the Hart Trophy, awarded to the player deemed most valuable to his team. Ruff was announced as one of the final three candidates for the Jack Adams Award, given annually to the NHL's top head coach.
"I look at it that I’ve had a staff that has worked extremely hard from our video or goalie coach to (assistant coaches) James (Patrick and) Curt (Fraser), those guys put in tremendous hours and do a lot of work with the players.
"Those individual meetings that they go through and myself and day after day going through challenging each other to be better, those guys have helped put me in the company I’m in to be nominated with those other guys, it’s nice. But I’d still trade it for tomorrow.”
It's not surprising that Ruff would prioritize a team accomplishment over an individual one, but it helps that he's already won the top coaching honor before.
Ruff was given the Jack Adams Award in 2006, after guiding the Buffalo Sabres to a 52-24-6 regular-season record and taking them to the Eastern Conference Final.
The Stars trail the Blues 3-2 in their second-round series. Dallas will look to stave off elimination and force Game 7 on Monday night in St. Louis.
