Bruce Boudreau has yet to coach an entire National Hockey League season, but Wednesday he was named a nominee for the Jack Adams Award.

Boudreau, who took over behind the Washington Capitals' bench in November, guided the team to the Southeast Division title. Detroit Red Wings' Mike Babcock and Montreal Canadiens' Guy Carbonneau were also short-listed for the award honouring the NHL's top coach.

Boudreau started the season coaching the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League, but earned his first NHL job when the Capitals fired Glen Hanlon on Nov. 22. At the time the Capitals were last in the division with a 6-13-1 mark, but under Boudreau's tutelage, Washington finished 43-31-8 and clinched the division title with a win in their last game of the regular season.

Boudreau spent 15 seasons coaching in the minors, winning the ECHL title in 1998-99 with the Mississippi Sea Wolves and the American Hockey League championship with the Bears in 2005-06.

Babcock coaches a talent-laden team inDetroit, but has been able to produce consistent results during his three years behind the bench in Motown. He posted his third consecutive 50-win season in 2007-08 as the Red Wings (54-21-7) captured the Presidents' Trophy for the NHL's top regular-season record.

Carbonneau led the Canadiens to a surprise Northeast Division title and the best record in the Eastern Conference at 47-25-10. Under the guidance of the second-year head coach, the Canadiens were the highest-scoring team in the league with 262 goals and had the best power play in the NHL at 24.2 per cent. The Canadiens never lost more than three consecutive games all season.

The Jack Adams award is presented by the NHL Broadcasters' Association. The winner will be announced the NHL awards gala on June 12.