Welcome back to another edition of our coaching profiles, where we look at potential candidates for the Blue Jackets' head-coaching vacancy.
The Gallant File
- Born: September 2, 1963, Summerside, PEI, Canada
- Currently: Recently parted ways as the head coach of the New York Rangers
- 1984-85 to 1994-95: Played 11 NHL seasons, most notably with the Detroit Red Wings. He tallied 207-260-467 in 563 regular-season games.
- 2003-04 to 2022-23: Has been the head coach for the Columbus Blue Jackets, Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights, and New York Rangers, posting a career 369-262-4-70 record.
Today's profile is on Gerard Gallant, a name familiar to many fans of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Twenty years ago, a 40-year-old Gallant was promoted from assistant to head coach after Doug MacLean was unceremoniously fired after a 9-21-4-3 start to the 2003-04 season. Gallant served as head coach of the Blue Jackets until he was let go after a 5-9-0-1 start in 2006-07.
Gallant spent some time rehabilitating his image, going from an assistant with the New York Islanders down to the QMJHL, where he won two championships in three seasons as head coach of the Saint John Sea Dogs. After another stint as an assistant, this time with the Montreal Canadiens, he was given another chance at an NHL head coaching gig, with the Florida Panthers. In 2017-18, he was hand-picked to be the inaugural coach for the expansion Vegas Golden Knights. He took the Knights to the Stanley Cup Finals and was named winner of the Jack Adams for best coach in the NHL.
After Vegas cut ties with Gallant, he took a year off coaching but found himself back at the helm starting in 2021-22, with the New York Rangers. In two seasons with the Rangers, he took his team to the Eastern Conference Finals (loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning) and recently lost in the first round to the New Jersey Devils.
Breaking: The New York Rangers and head coach Gerard Gallant have mutually agreed to part ways, the team announced. pic.twitter.com/hWqRgHTWd3
— ESPN (@espn) May 6, 2023
Gallant has yet to be an NHL head coach for more than three seasons at any of his prior stops, and his longest tenure period is with the Blue Jackets, where he was an assistant and head coach from 2001-02 through the first 15 games of 2006-07.
Still, he seems to have success wherever he goes, particularly early on in his tenure. In two seasons with the Rangers, his teams went 99-46-19. He took the Rangers to the Eastern Conference Finals in the first season, where they lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning. This season, after going all-in at the deadline in acquiring Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko, the club lost in seven games in the first round of the playoffs to the New Jersey Devils, which was particularly damming given the Rangers held a two-games to nothing advantage. After the series, he was critical of the lineup, saying that "talent only gets you so far". Days later, he and the organization mutually parted ways.
Columbus should be seen as a strong possibility to land Gallant. Not only does Gallant have a history with the organization, but he was the presumed runner-up two years ago when Brad Larsen was given the head coaching job.
Gallant, who turns 60 later this year, will need to explain in theoretical interviews how he has adapted to a changing game. He's perceived to be a 'player's coach', the type of leader that can foster relationships, more so than a 'tactician'. Pundits railed on the Rangers' inability to push back against the Devils, basically no-showing in each of their losses in the series.
I would look for that new head coach to have a more defined structure and system for the players to operate under.@CLoprestiWFAN explains why the Rangers saw fit to part ways with Gerard Gallant after two seasons #NYR pic.twitter.com/FQOuEQ9C86
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) May 7, 2023
After the season ended, Gallant didn't exactly get a ringing endorsement from his leadership group. The below video of Captain Jacob Trouba grasping for something nice to say is awkward.
"He's a guy that players respect...and enjoy playing for"
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) May 3, 2023
Jacob Trouba on Gerard Gallant: pic.twitter.com/zJ9Zngp7s8
The Blue Jackets may well be the eventual landing spot for Gallant. If that's the case, management will want to ensure that he is surrounded by assistants that can help him play to his strengths while addressing his weaknesses.
