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Gallant’s coaching record year by year and what it means for the Rangers

By Steve Paulus

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 01: Head coach Gerard Gallant of the Vegas Golden Knights takes questions during a news conference following the team's 3-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers at T-Mobile Arena on April 1, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 01: Head coach Gerard Gallant of the Vegas Golden Knights takes questions during a news conference following the team's 3-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers at T-Mobile Arena on April 1, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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New New York Rangers Head coach Gerard Gallant (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
New New York Rangers Head coach Gerard Gallant (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

When the New York Rangers picked Gerard Gallant to be their next coach, they got a man who has coached on every level of hockey.  He has coached three NHL teams, served as an assistant coach with two others while also an assistant coach in the minor leagues and a head coach in junior hockey.

How will his coaching history prepare for the challenge of taking a imperfect Rangers roster and molding the team into a playoff contender?  It’s worth looking at all of his coaching experience.

Gallant was forced to retire as a player at age 32 when he suffered a back injury. He was attempting a comeback with the Detroit Vipers of the IHL, but the October 1995 injury ended that try.  He made the jump immediately into coaching. Here’s a look at him year by year.

Cutting his teeth as a coach

The same year Gallant retired as a player, he started his coaching career, leading the Summerside Capitals to the Royal Bank Cup in 1997.  The team was from his hometown in Prince Edward Island and played in the Maritime Junior Hockey League.

He made the jump to the minor leagues serving as an assistant coach with the Fort Wayne Komets of the IHL in 1998 and then two years as an assistant with the Louisville Panthers of the AHL.

He got an NHL job as an assistant, hired by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2001. He was an assistant coach with Columbus from 2001 to 2004. That led to his first job as a head coach in the NHL.

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