Gerard Gallant
Three-time Jack Adams finalist and 2018 winner, led Golden Knights to historic first season.
Gerard Gallant (born September 2, 1963) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player who was most recently the head coach for the Shanghai Dragons of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He has previously served as the head coach in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Columbus Blue Jackets (2004–2006), Florida Panthers (2014–2016), Vegas Golden Knights (2017–2020), and New York Rangers (2021–2023). He is a three-time finalist for the Jack Adams Award for NHL coach of the year, winning the award in 2018 for the Golden Knights' first season. He was also a two-time Canadian Hockey League (CHL) coach of the year during his tenure with the Saint John Sea Dogs, where the team secured two President's Cup victories and one Memorial Cup.
- Role
- Head Coach
- Tenure
- 2017-2020
- Major Achievement
- Stanley Cup Finalist (2018)
- Status
- Former Head Coach
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Gallant previously played eleven seasons in the NHL, primarily for the Detroit Red Wings, but also including a short stint with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the 1981 NHL entry draft, sixth round, 107th overall. Gallant made his NHL debut on January 22, 1985, scoring against the New York Islanders. He was named to the NHL All-Star Second Team for the 1988–89 season. Gallant finished his NHL career with 211 goals in 615 games as a left winger for the Red Wings and Lightning. He also scored 18 playoff goals. Gallant played for Team Canada at the 1989 World Ice Hockey Championships, winning a silver medal.
In Their Own Story
The locker room hummed with nervous energy before Game 1 of the Cup Final. Gallant stood at the whiteboard, marker in hand, tracing lines on the ice diagram. He looked up, scanning faces that had been told they didn't belong anywhere else just months prior. 'They think we're a dream,' he said quietly, his voice cutting through the silence. 'Tonight, we make them believe.' The players nodded, lacing their skates tighter, ready to defend the impossible.
Reader's Guide
Gallant began his coaching career in 1995–96 with his hometown Summerside Capitals of the Maritime Junior Hockey League. He served as an assistant coach for the Fort Wayne Komets (IHL), Louisville Panthers (AHL), and Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL). He became head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets on January 1, 2004, and was fired on November 13, 2006. He then coached the Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL) from 2009 to 2012, winning two QMJHL championships and one Memorial Cup. He returned to the NHL as head coach of the Vegas Golden Knights from 2017 to 2020, winning the Jack Adams Award in 2018. He later coached the New York Rangers from 2021 to 2023.
Did You Know?
- Gallant has had the nickname 'Turk' since he was three or four years old.
- He was also called 'Spuddy' because of Prince Edward Island's reputation as the potato capital of Canada.
- Gallant served as acting captain of the Detroit Red Wings while Steve Yzerman was injured from March 2, 1988, through May 5, 1988.
- He accidentally cut Börje Salming's face with his skate blade during a game in 1986, requiring over 200 stitches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Gerard Gallant in Golden Knights history?
He served as the franchise's first-ever head coach, hired to build the team's identity when Vegas entered the NHL as an expansion club in 2017.
What was Gerard Gallant's biggest accomplishment with Vegas?
He guided the Knights to the Stanley Cup Final during their very first season in 2017-18, an unprecedented feat for any expansion team.
How long did Gerard Gallant coach the Golden Knights?
His tenure ran from the 2017-18 season through 2019-20, spanning the franchise's first three years in the league.
Why do Golden Knights fans still talk about Gerard Gallant?
As the coach who put an expansion squad in the Cup Final in year one, he remains the benchmark against which every subsequent Vegas coaching decision is measured.
What was Gerard Gallant's status with the team after 2020?
He was parted ways with the club following the 2019-20 campaign and is now listed as a former head coach in the franchise's records.
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