The 2019-20 NHL season has seen quite a fair amount of turnover in the coaching ranks, including the firing of veteran bench bosses Mike Babcock, Peter Laviolette and Pete DeBoer. One name that hit the unemployment market recently to the surprise of many was Gerard Gallant, who was fired by the Vegas Golden Knights after taking them to the playoffs in each of their first two seasons (including an appearance in the Stanley Cup Final).
Gallant should have plenty of suitors if he wants to jump back behind an NHL bench, but Pierre LeBrun reported last night on TSN’s Insider Trading that the expectation is that he will wait until the summer to make any decision.
What he told me Thursday is that he is in no rush. He’s going to use the rest of the year to decompress. He’s enjoying spending time with family, in fact he’s in Vegas this week tying up some loose ends. He says he has not spoken with any teams since his firing. His phone has been quiet that way.
LeBrun goes into even more detail in his latest column for The Athletic (subscription required), including examining several potential landing spots. The first team many will think of is Seattle, who would have to look at Gallant’s success in Vegas as extremely enticing as they prepare to enter the league. Gallant is under contract with the Golden Knights through next season so he wouldn’t be desperate for a salary, but of course that isn’t the only thing that drives coaches at this level.
Amazingly, Gallant has never made it through a third season as head coach of an NHL team. His stints in Columbus, Florida and now Vegas have all ended in year three, despite being above .500 with the latter two at the time the axe fell. Overall, the 2018 Jack Adams Award winner for Coach of the Year has a 270-216-4-51 record.
Seattle bound
Another first place ribbon
And remind Seattle they should call themselves the Skookums, with an Emerald green color scheme. Gerard Gallant gets to top the totem pole with the old slogan, “And NONE shall pass!” Dear Seattle Skookums: You owe me!
He’s going to Detroit.
He returns to Detroit to join his friend, The Captain.
Yup
DeBoer and Hynes getting new job mid season is absolutely hilarious. Bet Nashville wishes they waited a few weeks for Gallant to be available.
@amk3510 – Ya think Jack Daniels sales went through the roof when Hynes was hired? “The Million (Preds) Fans March”
Nah he will go to Buffalo next year with an EXPERIENCED GM! What we have in buffalo now is an utter disaster
He’s going to Dallas. Him and Nill have a long history with each other and Bowness is showing why he hasn’t had a head coaching gig in 20 years. No chance his garbage defense only system will win come playoffs so we’ll be in the market..
Wouldn’t surprise me if that’s why he’s waiting until the summer, bc he’s interested in the Dallas job and knows he’ll be their #1 target. Dallas is ready made to win now.
It’ll be hockey in the D for GG. Dallas or Detroit.
Be will be coaching the Seattle Antifa. Or Seattle Riot. Or maybe The Peoples Republic Of Seattle Hockey.
I can see it now, part of the teams uniform will be wearing a black mask, LOL!