The New York Rangers have reportedly hired Gerard Gallant as their new head coach.
Gerard Gallant will lead the New York Rangers at the start of the 2021-2022 season. The organization’s 36th head coach in the rich history of the franchise has been hired per Larry Brooks of the New York Post.
BREAKING: Rangers have reached agreement to hire Gerard Gallant as head coach, Post has learned.
— Larry Brooks (@NYP_Brooksie) June 14, 2021
Gallant has had an impressive coaching career in the NHL. The 57-year-old began his coaching career with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2003. Following a three-year stint there, he went on to be the head coach of the Florida Panthers in 2014 seven years later.
His most impressive run was when he was hired to take the reigns as the head coach of the Vegas Golden Knights expansion team. He took the team all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals in their first season. Â They would lose to the Washington Capitals but set a standard that may never be accomplished again.
In 2018 Â he won the Jack Adams award winner for coach of the year.
Coaching Record
In the nine years he has stood on an NHL bench Gallant has coached 541 games with a 270-216-4 record. He has appeared in 33 playoff games winning 18 while losing 15. He won the Western Conference Championship in 2017-’18 with the Vegas Golden Knights.
Gallant takes over for David Quinn who was relieved of his coaching duties following the conclusion of this Season.
Other names mentioned for that vacant New York coaching position were Rich Tochett and John Tortorella.
This is Drury’s first big transaction as president and general manager. Â The decision to hire Gallant is critical to the team’s progression in getting back to the postseason next year. Â Time will tell if he made the right decision.
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