Gerrard Gallant isn’t sitting by the phone waiting for another chance to coach in the NHL but he’s letting everyone know he’s willing and available to step in.
Gallant last coached in the NHL in 2022-23 with the New York Rangers until he was fired on May 6 after losing to the New Jersey Devils in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
He has been enjoying the time away from coaching, getting some extra time to spend with family, but will be listening to a team looking for help.
“I think people know (I’m available),” Gallant told NHL.com. “I’m only 60 years old. They know I want to coach again so if the opportunity comes up, I’d be happy to. We’ll see where it goes. I have no idea what’s going to happen, but I’m enjoying my time home with my family now.
“I get a chance to go to Florida a little bit and also see my grandkids, so I take a lot of good in what happened.”
Gallant will be behind the bench for the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Moncton, N.B., as an honorary coach.
When it comes to his prospects as an NHL head coach, Gallant has a track record some teams would find attractive. He brings an old-school mentality and brings structure to his teams.
With the Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights and Rangers between 2015-2023, Gallant had a winning season every year and an all-time record of 369-262-4-70. He won the Jack Adams Award in 2017-18 with the Golden Knights in the team’s inaugural season that led to an unlikely trip to the Stanley Cup Final.
“I’m waiting, I’m hoping, you know, if something comes up,” Gallant said. “Obviously, I’d like to be coaching again in the National Hockey League but we’ll see. I haven’t talked to anybody, and I’m not waiting by the phone. If the phone rings, I’ll be very happy, but I’m not sitting, waiting.”
While he has a strong 10-year track record as a head coach, Gallant said he would consider an assistant position if an opportunity came up.
Working with the top prospects reminded the 60-year-old of his time as a coach in junior hockey and the benefits of working with the next crop of NHL talent.
“I’ve only had one day (of practice) but it doesn’t look any different to me,” Gallant said. “I mean, when I was coach in Saint John (of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League), I had a lot of top-end prospects and we had a talented team for three years there. It was a lot of fun and to watch these kids out there in a 30-minute practice … there’s skill, there’s talent and obviously they’re the next NHL players.”
