Gallant has a combined 400 wins in 765 regular and postseason games behind the bench in the NHL, winning the 2018 Jack Adams Award with the Vegas Golden Knights.
Gallant has a combined 400 wins in 765 regular and postseason games behind the bench in the NHL, winning the 2018 Jack Adams Award with the Vegas Golden Knights.
Amidst the beginning of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ process of filling their head coaching vacancy, Gerard Gallant has presumably not landed an interview with the team, despite being mentioned as a potential candidate, at least according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox.
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported on his 32 Thoughts podcast that the Maple Leafs met with Craig Berube on Saturday.
From surveying the situation, it seems that Gallant is currently on the outside looking in. As a coach with a combined 400 wins in 765 regular and postseason games behind the bench in the NHL, he has struggled to make his way back into the league after his dismissal from the New York Rangers in 2022-23 – failing to find his footing behind a bench despite the increasing turnover with head coaches.
Gallant has served as a head coach with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights and Rangers throughout 2003-04 to 2022-23 – a veteran presence with a proven track record and extensive experience. He won the most coveted award for a coach aside from a Stanley Cup in the Jack Adams Award back in 2018, a trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League coach "adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success,” leading the Vegas Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Final in its inaugural season.
His coaching style fits similarly to those in previous tenures, adhering to his player’s style and utilizing his star talent while located in major NHL markets. Without a doubt, his experience could be viewed as an upside in General Manager Brad Treliving and President Brendan Shanahan’s eyes, but perhaps his most intriguing quality is something that the Leafs have been missing in previous regimes; accountability.
As the club is in search of a leader behind the bench that emphasizes the intangibles needed to win playoff hockey games, Gallant certainly fits the mold. Only time will tell if the seasoned veteran will earn an interview for a chance to compete alongside Berube and McLellan – who lead the race as frontrunners to steer this organization back to playoff success.
More to come.
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