Carbonneau worthy of Adams Trophy

[Habsfan84]

Q: Should Guy Carbonneau win the coach of the year with the job he's done with the Montreal Canadiens? Who would be his main competition? (Ben Fyshe)
A: The Canadiens missed the playoffs last year by two points with the New York Islanders getting the No. 8 seed in the East. This year the Habs could be the No. 1 seed and will likely exceed 100 points.
Carbonneau certainly rates major consideration for the job he's done, deciding on 20-year-old Carey Price as his goalie, getting on the right page with the enigmatic Alexei Kovalev, who's having an MVP-type year, bringing along Andrei Kostitsyn and Tomas Plekanec. The Jack Adams Trophy is voted on by the broadcasters, not the writers, but he'd certainly be in my top three.

New Jersey Devils coach Brent Sutter, in his first year behind an NHL bench, is in the running, too, keeping the team on track after opening with nine straight on the road, and squeezing every last ounce out of a club that can't score. It helps to have Martin Brodeur, of course, but Sutter has been a success everywhere he's been, and for good reason.
I've always thought the coach of the best NHL team always gets the dirty end of the stick, but maybe it's time Mike Babcock of the Detroit Red Wings got his due. He's had three straight 50-win years. He didn't even finish in the top two the preceding two seasons. Longshot: Bruce Boudreau in Washington, but he didn't take over the Capitals from Glen Hanlon until Nov. 22. Boudreau is 32-17-7 after Tuesday's 3-2 shootout win over the Carolina Hurricanes.
Q: Martin Brodeur is beginning to age and may retire soon, yet it seems the New Jersey Devils are in no hurry to find an heir apparent -- especially with their highest goalie prospect, Jeff Frazee, being mediocre. Do you think they would draft a goalie this June, maybe Brandon's Joe Caligiuri? (Eric Nguyen)
A: Brodeur turns 36 in May. He has four years left on his contract, so he'll most likely play that out. He's showing no visible signs of starting to lose his touch. He's hit 40 wins for the seventh time and had a .920 save percentage going into Tuesday's match against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Several years back, the Devils had high hopes for a Finnish junior stud, Ari Ahonen, after taking him in the first round, but he fizzled and is back in Europe. Brodeur has been able to stay healthy, too, so they haven't had to worry.
They took Frazee in the second round in 2005. The junior at the University of Minnesota took a back seat to freshman Alex Kangas this season.
Would they take a goalie this June? Sure, although it's not a deep goalie pool. Caligiuri had a so-so year with the Brandon Wheat Kings (2.73 average, 30 wins in 54 games). Chet Pickard of the Tri-City Americans is by far the best goalie prospect in the WHL, and if he was there late in Round 1, maybe the Devils would take him. There's a better chance New Jersey goes out and signs a free-agent when Brodeur shows signs of wearing down.
Some teams draft their own goalies like Ryan Miller (Buffalo Sabres), Cam Ward (Carolina), Pascal Leclaire (Columbus Blue Jackets), Price (Montreal), Evgeni Nabokov (San Jose Sharks), Kari Lehtonen (Atlanta Thrashers), Rick DiPietro (Islanders) and Marty Turco (Dallas Stars). Maybe in four years, Ward will be a free-agent on the open market; if Sutter is still coaching in Jersey, Ward can think of rejoining his old Red Deer boss.

Q: Kyle Wellwood had no penalties in 48 games last year and has none in 57 games this season in Toronto. Is this his main purpose in playing? I don't think this talented player is showing sufficient involvement in the game. He's got eight goals this year. (Ernie Kuyt)
A: Wellwood has been a major disappointment this year, with three even-strength goals. He had 42 points in 48 games last year but has 21 in 58 this season.
You're right about the mild-mannered game he plays. That's mind-boggling that a player in today's game could play 105 games over two seasons with no penalty minutes. No hooks, no holds, no interference calls. He's only had seven minors called in 186 NHL games, so it doesn't sound like he initiates, or reacts to, very much.
Even guys who have reputations for being clean players like Paul Kariya of the St. Louis Blues get 15 to 20 penalties a year. If Wellwood had 45 points in 57 games, you could allow for his lack of aggressiveness.
He's only 24 (he turns 25 in May) so it's too early to write him off, but he's dug himself a fair hole in Toronto.
You can e-mail any questions about the NHL, along with your full name, to: jmatheson@thejournal.canwest.com
Jim will answer a sampling of your queries every Wednesday in Journal Sports.