Gerard Gallant
Former NHL head coach and player, Jack Adams Award winner with the Vegas Golden Knights.
Gerard Gallant (born September 2, 1963) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player who was most recently the head coach of the New York Rangers (2021–2023). 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), and Vegas Golden Knights (2017–2020). 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.
Quick Facts
- Born
- 2 September 1963
- Birthplace
- Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada
- Position
- Left wing
- Shoots
- Left
- Played for
- Detroit Red Wings; Tampa Bay Lightning
- Coached for
- Columbus Blue Jackets
- Florida Panthers
- Vegas Golden Knights
- New York Rangers
- Shanghai Dragons
- Draft
- 107th overall
- Drafted by
- Detroit Red Wings
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 finished his NHL career with 211 goals in 615 games as a left winger. Gallant played for Team Canada at the 1989 World Ice Hockey Championships, winning a silver medal.
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, Louisville Panthers, and Columbus Blue Jackets before becoming head coach of the Blue Jackets in 2004. He was fired on November 13, 2006. He later coached the Saint John Sea Dogs from 2009 to 2012, winning two QMJHL championships and one Memorial Cup. He returned to the NHL as an assistant coach for the New York Islanders and later as head coach for the Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights, and New York Rangers.
Did You Know?
- Gallant has had the nickname 'Turk' since he was three or four years old.
- He was selected to the NHL All-Star Game in 1989, but was never named to a postseason All-Star Team.
- Gallant served as an alternate captain of the Detroit Red Wings while Steve Yzerman was injured in 1988.
- He was a two-time QMJHL and CHL Coach of the Year (2010 and 2011).
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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