The most recent winners of the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's coach of the year are Calgary's Bob Hartley (2015), Colorado's Patrick Roy (2014) and Ottawa's Paul MacLean (2013).
After the Flames fired Hartley last week, that left Roy as the only one of the three still on the job.
The three finalists this year — Washington's Barry Trotz, Dallas' Lindy Ruff and Florida's Gerard Gallant — might be excused for not being all that upset if they don't win the award.
In a conference call with reporters, Hartley said he was surprised by the move.