Report: Rangers granted permission to interview Gallant for HC vacancy

[Machinehead]

After Gallant took a ragtag group to the SCF in 2018, Vegas wanted to add more talent to stay competitive, and I believe Gallant didn't want to mess with what he had.

Vegas weren't wrong here per se. They have a phenomenal roster now. That's also not to say Gallant was wrong or isn't ambitious as far as roster building. He's just a guy that wants to put something together and once he has it, only wants players that fit what's already working.

What's good about Gallant is that the initial structure isn't going to be something he forces on the roster. He'll study what he has and build the system accordingly.

Kakko, Lafreniere, and Fox have skill, aren't bruisers but aren't shy, can skate but aren't burners, and Kakko and Fox excel defensively. So I would think Gallant (if he's the guy) would try to employ something that balances skill and checking, preaches responsibly without destroying offense, and plays at moderate speed with some guys capable of breaking away for diversity.

With Shestyorkin and the pieces we have on defense, I think shutting teams down is probably the easiest long-term identity to grow into, while also being capable of scoring five if it comes up. I think Gallant is a good coach in the sense that he finds these balances.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Does anyone else wish they were a fly on the wall during these interviews?

 

[RangerBoy]

Mike Kelly has been a long-time assistant coach to Gallant. Kelly was with Gallant at St. John's(QMJHL). They were together in Florida and Vegas. Kelly was also an assistant coach with Vancouver under AV.

Mike Kelly [ca.1981-1986] Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com

Gallant has been on staffs with Gord Murphy(Columbus), Ryan McGill(Vegas) and JJ Daigneault(Habs). Murphy is on the Hartford staff. McGill was the head coach in Hartford a very long time ago. Daigneault was an assistant coach in Hartford.

McGill is still on the Vegas staff.

 

[nyr2k2]

At this point I guess I'd lean towards Gallant or Hartley.

 

[NYR94]

I'm interested to see who the other 3-4 candidates they interview are

 

[cheech70]

Its good to see that Drury made the right choice of HC. Gallant is the right selection...whether he succeeds we will see.

 

[Cmox]

Does anyone else wish they were a fly on the wall during these interviews?

I’ve been wanting to be that f***ing fly on the wall since the ADA saga.

 

[rangers1314]

Mike Kelly has been a long-time assistant coach to Gallant. Kelly was with Gallant at St. John's(QMJHL). They were together in Florida and Vegas. Kelly was also an assistant coach with Vancouver under AV.

Mike Kelly [ca.1981-1986] Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com

Gallant has been on staffs with Gord Murphy(Columbus), Ryan McGill(Vegas) and JJ Daigneault(Habs). Murphy is on the Hartford staff. McGill was the head coach in Hartford a very long time ago. Daigneault was an assistant coach in Hartford.

McGill is still on the Vegas staff.

Another interesting name is John Madden, was with Gallent in Florida. He is currently in SJ.

 

[Talisman_52]

After Gallant took a ragtag group to the SCF in 2018, Vegas wanted to add more talent to stay competitive, and I believe Gallant didn't want to mess with what he had.

Vegas weren't wrong here per se. They have a phenomenal roster now. That's also not to say Gallant was wrong or isn't ambitious as far as roster building. He's just a guy that wants to put something together and once he has it, only wants players that fit what's already working.

What's good about Gallant is that the initial structure isn't going to be something he forces on the roster. He'll study what he has and build the system accordingly.

Kakko, Lafreniere, and Fox have skill, aren't bruisers but aren't shy, can skate but aren't burners, and Kakko and Fox excel defensively. So I would think Gallant (if he's the guy) would try to employ something that balances skill and checking, preaches responsibly without destroying offense, and plays at moderate speed with some guys capable of breaking away for diversity.

With Shestyorkin and the pieces we have on defense, I think shutting teams down is probably the easiest long-term identity to grow into, while also being capable of scoring five if it comes up. I think Gallant is a good coach in the sense that he finds these balances.

That kind of sounds like the Kings team that beat us for the cup.

 

[egelband]

I am in the pro Gallant camp. Though he’s not the only candidate I think would be a good Head Coach for the Rangers.
My only concern is Steve Yzerman. I didn’t like him when he played (always felt he was a sneaky player and not in the good way). Disliked him even more as a G.M.
My worry is Yzerman’s relationship with Gallant. Are they close? Do they speak often on the phone? Would Yzerman exploit that relationship to benefit the Wings?
This is all speculation on my part. For all we know that might not even like each other. Though I would hope that Chris Drury investigates that relationship with him and all the G.M. that Gallant has worked for.

This concern seems odd. Is there any reason you think he’d be like, a double agent for Stevie Y? I am just confused.

 

[Ruggs225]

That's pretty different than claiming player A is good or bad because of his coach.

absolutely

 

[RangersFan1994]

Rangers' coaching interviews begin with Gerard Gallant

 

[RangersFan1994]

 

[Machinehead]

That kind of sounds like the Kings team that beat us for the cup.

Yes, and I don't think the Rangers ever got over that. They've tried to address it by getting #ToughGuys for years.

I think they're now realizing that stapling idiots who can't skate at all (Howden, Andersson, Lemieux) onto a fast-break system isn't getting them that result.

It requires a cycling system that your skill players also buy into. The fact that most of our skill forwards aren't Olympic sprinters to begin with makes it actually make sense, unlike in '14 and '15 where we actually had speed, should have just said "oh well, sometimes you lose" and continued to improve at what we were good at.

Instead, we cut good skaters, doubled down on aging defensemen, and brought in Tanner Glass so they could play the same speed system they were failing in.

 

[Machinehead]

I thought this says "Gallant sneezed" and I was like "damn, during his interview..."

 

[LiveLongandProspal]

 

[rangers1314]

Funny you post this, I just watched the Probert doc this week.

Gallant was one of his pallbearers

 

[Leetch3]

Its good to see that Drury made the right choice of HC. Gallant is the right selection...whether he succeeds we will see.

he hasn't made a choice yet

 

[Adam Fox Time]

I would be very happy with Gallant.

At the very least he can take the Rangers to the next level.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

**I saw this posted on other forums - apologies as I posted this before visiting the other forums. I don't want to step on anyone's posts.


If you guys listen to Real Kyper podcast, go to about 11:05 in (spoiler: Gallant and analytics from Doug MacLean)

Thanks for posting. That explains what happened in Florida...

 

[bbny]

Gallant would be my 2nd choice after Torts, so good news that it went well. I'd be happy with him

 

[Chaels Arms]

Has anyone ventured to the Vegas boards to see how that fanbase feels about Gallant? They were good with him, they've been good without him; would be interesting to see what the consensus is over there.

 

[Adam Fox Time]

Gerard Gallant fired as Vegas Head Coach - Replaced by Peter DeBoer

Reading that thread, most people thought it was a bad move.

 

[LetsGoRangers2021]

All top players end up top players without the help of any coach.

Saying Gallant made Barkov and Huberdeau is the same thing as saying Quinn made Fox.

Exactly. Like the coach is everything

 

[LetsGoRangers2021]

Gerard Gallant fired as Vegas Head Coach - Replaced by Peter DeBoer

Reading that thread, most people thought it was a bad move.

great. But do random internet fans know?