As the Toronto Maple Leafs start the process of finding their new head coach, one surprising name that hasn't landed an interview with the team is Gerard Gallant, even though Sportsnet Luke Fox mentioned him as a possible candidate.
Gallant has a combined 400 wins in 765 regular and postseason games as a head coach in the NHL, but ever since his dismissal from the New York Rangers in 2022-23 he has been struggling to make his way back into the league.
During Gallant's time as a head coach in the NHL he's coached a few teams, like the Columbus Blue Jackets, Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights and the New York Rangers throughout 2003-04 to 2022-23.
The veteran coach has plenty of experience as he even won the Jack Adams Award back in 2018, a trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League coach "adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success,» as he lead the Vegas Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Final.
Without a doubt, Gallant's experience could be viewed as a positive in GM Brad Treliving and President Brendan Shanahan's eyes, but his most notable trait is accountability, something that the Leafs seem to be missing in previous seasons.
For a club who is in search of a leader that understands what it takes to win games during the playoffs, Gerard Gallant most definitely fits that category. But of course only time will tell if Gallant will land an interview with the Maple Leafs, as it seems like Berube and McLellan are the frontrunners to land the coaching position.
