Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau is smiling again

It’s only been since last Sunday night that Anaheim Ducks head coach Bruce Boudreau has been dealing with a longer off-season than hoped for after losing a tough game 7 on home ice to the Detroit Red Wings. But today he has a nice reason to smile again being named as one of 3 finalists for the NHL’s Jack Adams Award given to the head coach who has contributed most to his team’s success. The other two are Chicago’s Joel Quenneville, and Ottawa’s Paul MacLean.

But how about Boudreau’s brief successes here in So-Cal after his first full season in Anaheim (and a lockout shortened one as well), he led the Ducks to the Pacific Division title and the second seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Anaheim was third overall in the NHL standings after finishing 25th the previous season. And Boudreau previously won this award in 2008 with Washington.

I was able to join Bruce and several other media types on a conference call this morning to get his thoughts on his nomination along with a few other questions that I had for him…like how he sees his up the freeway rivals the Kings doing in their run for back to back Stanley Cups and how crazy this business is that he’s up for this prestigious coaching award again after the Capitals didn’t want him there anymore?

Enjoy this special Ducks call folks with coach Bruce Boudreau:

Good luck Coach!