Gerard Gallant

{{about|the ice hockey coach|the contract killer|Gerald Gallant}}

{{Infobox ice hockey biography

| halloffame =

| image = Gerard Gallant 2018-02-04 2.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Gallant with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2018

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1963|09|02}}

| birth_place = Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada

| height_ft = 5

| height_in = 10

| weight_lb = 190

| position = Left wing

| shoots = Left

| played_for = Detroit Red Wings
Tampa Bay Lightning

| league_coach =

| team_coach =

| coached_for = Columbus Blue Jackets
Florida Panthers
Vegas Golden Knights
New York Rangers

| ntl_team = CAN

| draft = 107th overall

| draft_year = 1981

| draft_team = Detroit Red Wings

| career_start = 1984

| career_end = 1995

| career_start_coach = 1998

| career_end_coach =

| medaltemplates =

{{Medal|Country | {{flagu|Canada}} }}

}}

Gerard Gallant (born September 2, 1963) is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former player. He was most recently the head coach of the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has previously served as the head coach 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.

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.

Early life

Gallant was born in Summerside, Prince Edward Island. He grew up near a local ice rink and was often found sweeping the stands with his buddies in exchange for extra ice time.{{cite web |title=Gerard "Turk" Gallant |url=https://www.peisportshalloffame.ca/inductees/gerard-turk-gallant/ |website=peisportshalloffame.ca |access-date=January 16, 2020 |archive-date=May 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525035120/https://www.peisportshalloffame.ca/inductees/gerard-turk-gallant/ |url-status=dead }} Gallant has had the nickname "Turk" since he was three or four years old.{{cite web |last1=Marrazza |first1=Dan |title=Gallant Explains Origins Of His "Turk" Nickname |url=https://www.nhl.com/goldenknights/news/gallant-explains-origins-of-his-turk-nickname/c-288881448 |website=NHL.com |access-date=September 9, 2018 |date=April 17, 2017}}{{cite web |last1=Malinowski |first1=Mark |title=GERARD GALLANT |url=https://thehockeynews.com/news/article/gerard-gallant |website=thehockeynews.com |access-date=September 9, 2018 |date=July 21, 2013}} Gallant stated that when he first got to the NHL, a lot of the guys also called him "Spuddy" because of Prince Edward Island's reputation as the potato capital of Canada.

While playing for the Summerside Crystals of the Maritime Junior A Hockey League at the age of 16, he netted 60 goals and 115 points in just 45 games.

As a junior, Gallant played for three teams in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League: the Sherbrooke Castors (1980–81, 1981–82), the St. Jean Beavers (1982–83), and the Verdun Juniors (1982–83). Gallant served as team captain during his final year in juniors.{{cite web |title=Gerard Gallant at eliteprospects.com |url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/72199/gerard-gallant |website=eliteprospects.com |access-date=January 16, 2020}}

After his first junior season in 1981, Gallant finished as runner-up to Claude Verret in voting for 1980–81 Michel Bergeron Trophy as QMJHL offensive rookie of the year.{{cite web |title=1981 NHL Entry Draft – Gerard Gallant |url=http://www.hockeydraftcentral.com/1981/81107.html |website=hockeydraftcentral.com |access-date=January 16, 2020}}

Playing career

Gallant was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the 1981 NHL entry draft, sixth round, 107th overall.

Gallant made his professional debut with the Adirondack Red Wings of the American Hockey League (AHL) in 1983. At the age of 19, he was the youngest regular on the roster. Spending the full 1983–84 season in the minor league, he finished with 31 goals, 64 points, and 195 penalty minutes in 77 games.{{cite web |title=Gerard Gallant Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com |url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=1824 |website=hockeydb.com |access-date=January 16, 2020}}

Gallant split the 1984–85 season between the AHL and NHL, making his Detroit Red Wings debut against the New York Islanders on January 22, 1985.{{cite web |title=On This Day in Red Wings History... |url=http://redwings.nhl.com/club/blogpostprint.htm?id=13186 |website=NHL.com |access-date=January 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305050711/http://redwings.nhl.com/club/blogpostprint.htm?id=13186 |archive-date=March 5, 2016}} In his first game, he scored against Islanders' goaltender Billy Smith in the second period of a 5–4 Detroit victory that snapped a 12-game Red Wings' winless streak. In his second game, he fought Rangers' forward Bob Brooke.

Gallant opened the 1985–86 season as a full-time regular with the Red Wings. However, in a December 11 game against the Minnesota North Stars, he suffered a broken jaw during a fight with Dirk Graham. Gallant's jaw had to be wired shut for six weeks, causing him to miss six weeks of games. When he returned, he sported a football-style face mask on his helmet.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}} He ultimately appeared in 52 games, scoring 20 goals with 39 points and 106 penalty minutes. Gallant was part of an unfortunate incident in a November 26, 1986, game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Red Wings in Detroit. During a scrum in front of the Leafs net, Gallant accidentally cut the face of Börje Salming with his skate blade after Salming had been knocked down. The injury required facial surgery and more than two hundred stitches to Salming's face.{{cite web |last1=Ulmer |first1=Mike |title=Not For The Faint Of Heart |url=https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news/not-for-the-faint-of-heart/c-607954 |website=NHL.com |access-date=January 16, 2020 |date=December 23, 2011}}

Gallant's career took off after Jacques Demers was hired as the Red Wings head coach in 1986. In his next four seasons, he averaged 36 goals, 80 points, and 235 penalty minutes. While he never played in the All-Star Game, he was named to the NHL All-Star Second Team for the 1988–89 NHL season.

Injuries, mostly to his back, caused Gallant to miss over 30 games over the 1990–91 NHL season. In March 1991, he was forced to undergo surgery to remove a bone spur from his back, causing him to miss the rest of the regular season and the playoffs.{{cite web |last1=Zizzo |first1=Mike |title=A Gallant Decision To Relight Career |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1993/09/29/a-gallant-decision-to-relight-career/ |website=OrlandoSentinel.com |access-date=January 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304203551/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1993-09-29/sports/9309290431_1_gallant-career-best-tampa-bay |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=live |date=September 29, 1993}} Gallant returned to the Wings as a full-time regular for the 1991–92 and 1992–93 seasons. He provided his usual physical presence and finished with a +16 and +20 plus/minus rating; however, was unable to duplicate his scoring prowess and the Wings did not offer him a contract to return.

On July 22, 1993, Gallant signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He played in 51 games with the Lightning in 1993–94 and one game in the lockout-shortened 1995 season, along with 16 games with the Atlanta Knights, the Lightning's top farm team in the International Hockey League (IHL).

On October 23, 1995, Gallant signed as a free agent with the Detroit Vipers of the IHL and was off to a good start with two goals and an assist in three games. However, on November 5, 1995, he suffered a career-ending back injury in practice and was forced to retire at the age of 32. Gallant finished his NHL career with 211 goals in 615 games as a left winger for the Red Wings and Lightning. He also scored 18 playoff goals.

International play

Gallant played for Team Canada at the 1989 World Ice Hockey Championships under head coach Dave King. Playing alongside Red Wings teammate Steve Yzerman, Gallant scored two goals and had three assists in eight games as the Canadians won the silver medal.{{cite web |title=Murray Accepts Head Coaching Position with Team Canada |url=https://www.nhl.com/blues/news/murray-accepts-head-coaching-position-with-team-canada/c-432380 |website=NHL.com |access-date=January 16, 2020 |date=April 3, 2007}}

Player profile

Despite his smaller stature (5 ft 10 in, 180 lbs), Gallant played the role of power forward during his time with the Red Wings – similar to NHL contemporary Kevin Dineen. Playing on the Red Wings top line alongside star Steve Yzerman and either Bob Probert or Paul MacLean,{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/01/13/sports/wings-yzerman-flourishes-on-graceful-scoring-touch.html|title=Wings' Yzerman Flourishes On Graceful Scoring Touch|author=Joe Lapointe|newspaper=The New York Times|date=January 13, 1988}} he was among the team leaders in both goals and penalty minutes. Gallant's 1988–89 line of 39 goals, 54 assists, and 230 penalty minutes was the first of its kind in NHL history, only matched later by Kevin Stevens in 1991–92 and Rick Tocchet in 1992–93.{{cite web |title=Player Season Finder |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/play-index/psl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=single&year_min=&year_max=&season_start=1&season_end=-1&rookie=N&age_min=0&age_max=99&birth_country=&birthyear_min=&birthyear_max=&franch_id=&is_active=&is_hof=&pos=S&handed=&is_playoffs=N&c1stat=goals&c1comp=gt&c1val=34&c2stat=pen_min&c2comp=gt&c2val=230&c3stat=points&c3comp=gt&c3val=93&c4stat=&c4comp=gt&c4val=&threshhold=5&order_by=goals |website=Hockey-Reference.com |access-date=January 16, 2020}} Detroit's coach at the time, Jacques Demers, said he thought Gallant's penchant for fighting was the only thing holding him back from a 50-goal season. Gallant had taken part in 17 fights in 1986–87, 19 fights in 1987–88, and 10 fights in 1988–89.

Gallant was a popular teammate and served as an alternate captain alongside Bob Probert, Rick Zombo, or Steve Chiasson. He served as acting captain while Steve Yzerman was injured from March 2, 1988, through May 5, 1988.

Former Wings head coach and later Ottawa Senators scout Nick Polano said of Gallant: "He was a tough kid, a tough competitor... and I'll tell you, he was a [expletive] to play against."{{cite web|title=Gallant recalls making Wings scoring history with Yzerman, MacLean|url=https://www.foxsports.com/detroit/story/gallant-recalls-making-wings-scoring-history-with-yzerman-maclean-120414|website=foxsports.com|access-date=May 21, 2018|date=December 4, 2014}}

Coaching career

Gallant began his coaching career in 1995–96 with his hometown Summerside Capitals of the Maritime Junior Hockey League, leading the team to the Royal Bank Cup in 1997.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

Gallant then moved on to the professional coaching ranks, serving as an assistant coach for the Fort Wayne Komets of the IHL in 1998.{{cite web|url=http://www.news-sentinel.com/sports/komets/-Vagabond--Komets-have-found-home-in-coaching|title="Vagabond" Komets have found home in coaching – News-Sentinel.com|access-date=February 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304200323/http://www.news-sentinel.com/sports/komets/-Vagabond--Komets-have-found-home-in-coaching|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} He spent the 1999–2000 season serving as an assistant for the Louisville Panthers of the AHL under head coach Joe Paterson, a former teammate of Gallant's in Detroit.{{cite web |last1=Little |first1=Todd |title=A look at Florida Panthers coaching candidate Gerard Gallant |url=https://www.litterboxcats.com/2014/6/3/5776190/2014-florida-panthers-head-coaching-gerard-gallant-nhl |website=Litter Box Cats |access-date=April 25, 2019 |date=June 3, 2014}}

Gallant then served as an assistant for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the NHL from 2001 to 2004 under head coaches Dave King and Doug MacLean. King had served as Gallant's head coach for Team Canada at the 1989 World Ice Hockey Championships. MacLean had been an assistant coach with the Red Wings in the early 1990s. MacLean, who was also serving as the Blue Jackets general manager, resigned as head coach on January 1, 2004, and named Gallant as his successor. Gallant's assistant position was filled by veteran college hockey coach Dean Blais. Gallant served as the Blue Jackets head coach for the remainder of the 2003–04 season, through the 2004–05 season lost to the NHL lockout, all of the 2005–06 season, and a portion of the 2006–07 season. On November 13, 2006, Gallant was fired as head coach and was replaced by assistant Gary Agnew for five games.{{cite web |last1=Miller |first1=Rusty |title=Blue Jackets Fire Coach Gerard Gallant |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/13/AR2006111300976.html |website=washingtonpost.com |access-date=January 16, 2020 |date=November 13, 2006}} The Blue Jackets hired Ken Hitchcock as full-time coach on November 22, 2006.{{cite web |last1=Miller |first1=Rusty |title=Blue Jackets Hire Ken Hitchcock As Coach |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/22/AR2006112201644.html |website=washingtonpost.com |access-date=January 16, 2020 |date=November 26, 2006}}

In 2007, Gallant was named by Team Canada general manager Steve Yzerman as one of the two assistant coaches for the 2007 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships. Gallant helped the Canadian team to a championship and gold medal finish.{{cite web |last1=Aykroyd |first1=Lucas |title=Champs from the Maritimes |url=http://www.iihf.com/sv/home-of-hockey/news/news-singleview/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=6089&cHash=eda683130db8c39058a09ad12c3b9b4a |website=IIHF.com |access-date=January 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304161148/http://www.iihf.com/sv/home-of-hockey/news/news-singleview/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=6089&cHash=eda683130db8c39058a09ad12c3b9b4a |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |date=May 10, 2011}}

Gallant joined the New York Islanders as an assistant coach for the 2007–08 and 2008–09 seasons. Then head coach of the Islanders, Ted Nolan, had been a teammate of Gallant's on the Adirondack Red Wings in 1983.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

On April 24, 2009, Gallant was named head coach of the Saint John Sea Dogs of the QMJHL. During his three seasons with Saint John, he compiled a 159-34-9 record and led the Sea Dogs to three first-place finishes, three league final appearances, two QMJHL championships (2011 and 2012), and one Memorial Cup (2011). Gallant was also named the QMJHL and Canadian Hockey League Coach of the Year twice (2010 and 2011).

On June 15, 2012, Gallant returned to the NHL when he was appointed as an assistant coach with the Montreal Canadiens under Michel Therrien. The Canadiens' general manager Marc Bergevin had been a teammate of Gallant with the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 1990s.{{cite web |last1=Harrison |first1=Doug |title=Canadiens name Gerard Gallant, Clement Jodoin assistant coaches |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/canadiens-name-gerard-gallant-clement-jodoin-assistant-coaches-1.1168242 |website=CBC.ca |access-date=January 16, 2020 |date=June 15, 2012}}

On June 21, 2014, he was named head coach of the NHL's Florida Panthers by then-executive vice president and general manager, Dale Tallon.{{cite web |title=Gerard Gallant Named New Coach of Florida Panthers |url=https://www.nhl.com/panthers/news/gerard-gallant-named-new-coach-of-florida-panthers/c-723340 |website=NHL.com |access-date=January 16, 2020 |date=June 21, 2014}} In his first season, he led the Panthers to a record of 38 wins, 29 losses, 5 overtime losses, and 10 shoot-out losses for 91 points. The record was an improvement of 9 wins and 25 points over the prior season. In 2015–16, Gallant led the upstart Panthers to a 24–12–4 record at the All-Star break, earning him a spot in the all-star game as the head coach for the Atlantic Division All-Stars. The Panthers finished with a club-record 47 wins and 103 points, enough for the second division title in franchise history. For his efforts, Gallant was named as a finalist for the Jack Adams Award.{{cite web|title=Gerard Gallant Named Jack Adams Award Finalist|url=https://www.nhl.com/panthers/news/gerard-gallant-named-jack-adams-award-finalist/c-881714|website=NHL.com|access-date=November 18, 2016|date=May 6, 2016}} On November 27, 2016, Gallant was fired by new Panthers general manager Tom Rowe after posting an 11–10–1 record to start the season.{{cite web|title=Panthers fire coach Gerard Gallant|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/gerard-gallant-fired-as-florida-panthers-coach/c-284141932|website=NHL.com|access-date=November 28, 2016|date=November 27, 2016}}

On April 13, 2017, Gallant was announced as the first head coach of the Vegas Golden Knights.{{cite web|title=Golden Knights Name Gerard Gallant Head Coach|url=https://www.nhl.com/goldenknights/news/golden-knights-name-gerard-gallant-head-coach/c-288743770|website=NHL.com|access-date=April 13, 2017|date=April 13, 2017}}

Gallant led the Golden Knights to one of the most successful debut seasons for an expansion team in North American major professional sports history. On January 3, 2018, it was announced that Gallant would coach the Pacific Division All-Stars in the 2018 NHL All-Star Game.{{cite web|last1=Carp|first1=Steve|title=Golden Knights' Gerard Gallant to coach Pacific Division All-Stars|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/golden-knights-nhl/golden-knights-gerard-gallant-to-coach-pacific-division-all-stars/|website=Las Vegas Review-Journal|access-date=February 3, 2018|date=January 3, 2018}} On February 1, 2018, the Golden Knights set the NHL record for most wins (34) by an expansion franchise in league history. The mark was set in only 50 games played.{{cite web|last1=Carp|first1=Steve|title=Golden Knights set NHL record for expansion team with 34th win|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/golden-knights-nhl/golden-knights-set-nhl-record-for-expansion-team-with-34th-win/|website=Las Vegas Review-Journal|access-date=February 3, 2018|date=February 1, 2018}} They clinched the Pacific Division title on March 31, becoming the first true expansion team in the four major sports to do so (not counting all-expansion divisions).{{cite web|last1=Schoen|first1=David|title=Golden Knights win, 3-2, clinch Pacific Division title|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/golden-knights-nhl/golden-knights-win-3-2-clinch-pacific-division-title/|website=Las Vegas Review-Journal|access-date=April 5, 2018|date=March 31, 2018}} On April 25, 2018, Gallant was nominated for the Jack Adams Award for the second time,{{cite web |title=Jack Adams Award finalists unveiled |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-top-coach-finalists-announced/c-298246060 |website=NHL.com |access-date=April 25, 2018 |date=April 27, 2018}} which he would be awarded on June 20.{{cite web |title=Gerard Gallant wins Jack Adams Award as NHL's coach of the year |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/gerard-gallant-wins-jack-adams-award-nhls-coach-year/ |website=Sportsnet.ca |access-date=June 21, 2018 |date=June 20, 2018}} Under his watch, the Golden Knights advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals, losing to the Washington Capitals in five games.

Gallant would lead the Golden Knights to another playoff appearance in 2019, losing in the Western Conference first round to the San Jose Sharks.

Gallant was fired by the Golden Knights on January 15, 2020, after a four-game losing streak. Peter DeBoer was subsequently named the second head coach in franchise history.{{cite web |title=Vegas Golden Knights Make Coaching Changes; Name Peter DeBoer Head Coach |url=https://www.nhl.com/goldenknights/news/vegas-golden-knights-make-coaching-changes-name-peter-deboer-head-coach/c-313969764 |website=NHL.com |access-date=January 15, 2020 |date=January 15, 2020}} Gallant had called DeBoer a "clown" in a public press conference during Vegas' first-round playoff series against the San Jose Sharks (whom DeBoer coached at the time) the previous year.{{cite web |title=Peter DeBoer was called 'clown' by Gerard Gallant before replacing him|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/sharks/peter-deboer-was-called-clown-gerard-gallant-replacing-him|website=nbcsports.com |access-date=January 15, 2020 |date=January 15, 2020}}

On April 28, 2021, Gallant was announced as the head coach of Team Canada for the 2021 IIHF World Championship.{{cite web |title=Gerard Gallant to coach Canada at upcoming men's world championships |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/article/gerard-gallant-coach-canada-upcoming-mens-world-championships/ |website=Sportsnet.ca |access-date=May 25, 2021 |date=April 28, 2021}} After an 0–3 start to the tournament, Team Canada won the gold medal in a 3–2 win in sudden death overtime to defeat Team Finland and give Canada its 27th world title.{{cite web |title=Canada beats Finland to capture gold at men's hockey worlds |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/canada-finland-mens-world-hockey-championship-gold-june-6-1.6055508 |website=CBC.ca |date=June 6, 2021 |access-date=June 15, 2021}}

On June 16, 2021, Gallant was announced as the head coach of the New York Rangers, replacing David Quinn.{{cite web |title=Gerard Gallant Named Rangers Head Coach |url=https://www.nhl.com/rangers/news/gerard-gallant-named-rangers-head-coach/c-325359146 |website=NHL.com |access-date=June 17, 2021 |date=June 16, 2021}}

On April 2, 2023, Gallant became the first to coach the Rangers to back-to-back 100-point seasons in his first two years with the franchise.{{cite web |last1=Mercogliano |first1=Vince Z. |title=Postgame takeaways: Kid Line snaps NY Rangers out of their late-season funk |url=https://www.lohud.com/story/sports/nhl/rangers/2023/04/02/postgame-takeaways-kid-line-snaps-ny-rangers-out-of-their-funk/70068361007/ |website=The Journal News |access-date=April 3, 2023 |date=April 2, 2023 |quote=The win pushed the Blueshirts past the 100-point marker for the second consecutive season, making Gallant the first coach in franchise history to accomplish that feat in each of his first two years on the bench.}} He left the Rangers after their first-round playoff exit in 2023.{{cite web |title=Rangers and Gerard Gallant Mutually Agree to Part Ways |url=https://www.nhl.com/rangers/news/rangers-and-gerard-gallant-mutually-agree-to-part-ways/c-344195394 |website=NHL.com |access-date=May 7, 2023 |date=May 6, 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Alex |title=Rangers, head coach Gerard Gallant agree to part ways following early playoff exit |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/rangers-head-coach-gerard-gallant-211652063.html |website=Yahoo! Sports |access-date=May 6, 2023 |date=May 6, 2023}}

Personal life

Gallant and his wife, Pam, are the parents of two children, Melissa and Jason. Melissa is married to former professional hockey player Darryl Boyce. Jason played four seasons with the Summerside Western Capitals of the MJAHL and currently coaches youth hockey.{{cite web |title=Jason Gallant at eliteprospects.com |url=https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/68726/jason-gallant |website=eliteprospects.com |access-date=January 16, 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Simmonds |first1=Jason |title=Gallant returns to Western Capitals |url=https://www.journalpioneer.com/sports/hockey/gallant-returns-to-western-capitals-328565/ |website=journalpioneer.com |access-date=January 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702030421/https://www.journalpioneer.com/sports/hockey/gallant-returns-to-western-capitals-328565/ |archive-date=July 2, 2019 |date=July 1, 2019}}

Awards and championships

=As a player=

QMJHL championship: 1982
QMJHL championship: 1983
QMJHL All-Star Third Team: 1982–83
NHL All-Star second team: 1988–89
IIHF World Championship – silver medal: 1989

=As a coach=

RBC Cup: 1997
Prince Edward Island Sports Hall of Fame: inducted 2001
Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year Award: 2010, 2011
IIHF World Championship – gold medal: 2007, 2021
QMJHL League championship: 2011, 2012
Memorial Cup championship: 2011
Ron Lapointe Trophy – QMJHL Coach of the Year: 2011
NHL All-Star Game: 2016, 2018
Jack Adams Award: 2018
The Hockey News, Scotty Bowman Award (Best Coach): 2018

Career statistics

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em"

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! colspan="5" | Regular season

! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |

! colspan="5" | Playoffs

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! Season

! Team

! League

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

! GP

! G

! A

! Pts

! PIM

1979–80

| Summerside Crystals

| MJrHL

| 45

| 60

| 55

| 115

| 90

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1980–81

| Sherbrooke Castors

| QMJHL

| 68

| 41

| 59

| 100

| 265

| 14

| 6

| 13

| 19

| 46

1981–82

| Sherbrooke Castors

| QMJHL

| 58

| 34

| 58

| 92

| 260

| 22

| 14

| 24

| 38

| 84

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1981–82

| Sherbrooke Castors

| MC

| —

| 5

| 3

| 8

| 28

1982–83

| St-Jean Castors

| QMJHL

| 33

| 28

| 25

| 53

| 139

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1982–83

| Verdun Juniors

| QMJHL

| 29

| 26

| 49

| 75

| 105

| 15

| 14

| 19

| 33

| 84

1982–83

| Verdun Juniors

| MC

| —

| 4

| 3

| 1

| 4

| 23

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1983–84

| Adirondack Red Wings

| AHL

| 77

| 31

| 33

| 64

| 195

| 7

| 1

| 3

| 4

| 34

1984–85

| Detroit Red Wings

| NHL

| 32

| 6

| 12

| 18

| 66

| 3

| 0

| 11

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1984–85

| Adirondack Red Wings

| AHL

| 46

| 18

| 29

| 47

| 131

| —

1985–86

| Detroit Red Wings

| NHL

| 52

| 20

| 19

| 39

| 106

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1986–87

| Detroit Red Wings

| NHL

| 80

| 38

| 34

| 72

| 216

| 16

| 8

| 6

| 14

| 43

1987–88

| Detroit Red Wings

| NHL

| 73

| 34

| 39

| 73

| 242

| 16

| 6

| 9

| 15

| 55

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1988–89

| Detroit Red Wings

| NHL

| 76

| 39

| 54

| 93

| 230

| 6

| 1

| 2

| 3

| 40

1989–90

| Detroit Red Wings

| NHL

| 69

| 36

| 44

| 80

| 254

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1990–91

| Detroit Red Wings

| NHL

| 45

| 10

| 16

| 26

| 111

| —

1991–92

| Detroit Red Wings

| NHL

| 69

| 14

| 22

| 36

| 187

| 11

| 2

| 4

| 25

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1992–93

| Detroit Red Wings

| NHL

| 67

| 10

| 20

| 30

| 188

| 6

| 1

| 2

| 3

| 4

1993–94

| Tampa Bay Lightning

| NHL

| 51

| 4

| 9

| 13

| 74

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1994–95

| Atlanta Knights

| IHL

| 16

| 3

| 6

| 31

| —

1994–95

| Tampa Bay Lightning

| NHL

| 1

| 0

| —

bgcolor="#f0f0f0"

| 1995–96

| Detroit Vipers

| IHL

| 3

| 2

| 1

| 3

| 6

| —

bgcolor="#e0e0e0"

! colspan="3" | NHL totals

! 615

! 211

! 269

! 480

! 1,674

! 58

! 18

! 21

! 39

! 178

Head coaching record

rowspan="2"\|Team	rowspan="2"\|Year	colspan="7"\|Regular season	colspan="4"\|Postseason
class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center;"
G	W	L	T	OTL	Pts	Finish	W	L	Win%	Result
CBJ	2003–04 \| 45 \|\| 16 \|\| 24 \|\| 4 \|\| 1 \|\| (37) \|\| 4th in Central \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| Missed playoffs
CBJ	2005–06 \| 82 \|\| 35 \|\| 43 \|\| — \|\| 4 \|\| 74 \|\| 3rd in Central \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| Missed playoffs
CBJ	2006–07 \| 15 \|\| 5 \|\| 9 \|\| — \|\| 1 \|\| (11) \|\| (fired) \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| —
colspan="2"\|CBJ total	142	56	76	4	6			—	—	—
FLA	2014–15 \| 82 \|\| 38 \|\| 29 \|\| — \|\| 15 \|\| 91 \|\| 6th in Atlantic \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| Missed playoffs
style="background:#fdd;" ! FLA !! 2015–16 \| 82	47	26	—	9	103	1st in Atlantic	2	4	{{Winning percentage\|2\|4}}	Lost in first round (NYI)
FLA	2016–17 \| 22 \|\| 11 \|\| 10 \|\| — \|\| 1 \|\| (23) \|\| (fired) \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| —
colspan="2"\|FLA total	186	96	65	—	25			2	4	{{Winning percentage\|2\|4}}	1 playoff appearance
style="background:#fdd;" ! VGK !! 2017–18 \| 82	51	24	—	7	109	1st in Pacific	13	7	{{Winning percentage\|13\|7}}	Lost in Stanley Cup Finals (WSH)
style="background:#fdd;" ! VGK	2018–19 \| 82	43	32	—	7	93	3rd in Pacific	3	4	{{Winning percentage\|3\|4}}	Lost in first round (SJS)
VGK	2019–20 \| 49 \|\| 24 \|\| 19 \|\| — \|\| 6 \|\| (54) \|\| (fired) \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| —
colspan="2"\|VGK total	213	118	75	—	20			16	11	{{Winning percentage\|16\|11}}	2 playoff appearances
style="background:#fdd;" ! NYR !! 2021–22 \| 82	52	24	—	6	110	2nd in Metropolitan	10	10	{{Winning percentage\|10\|10}}	Lost in conference finals (TBL)
style="background:#fdd;" ! NYR !! 2022–23 \| 82	47	22	—	13	107	3rd in Metropolitan	3	4	{{Winning percentage\|3\|4}}	Lost in first round (NJD)
colspan="2"\|NYR total	164	99	46	—	19			13	14	{{Winning percentage\|13\|14}}	2 playoff appearances
colspan="2"\|Total	705	369	262	4	70			31	29	{{Winning percentage\|31\|29}} \|\| 5 playoff appearances

References

External links

{{Ice hockey stats}}
Feature at [http://www.nhl.com/intheslot/read/features/gallant_qa102204.html NHL.com]{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

{{succession box | before = Doug MacLean | title = Head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets | years = 2004–2006 | after = Gary Agnew}}

{{succession box | before = Peter Horachek | title = Head coach of the Florida Panthers | years = 2014–2016 | after = Tom Rowe}}

{{succession box | before = Position created | title = Head coach of the Vegas Golden Knights | years = 2017–2020 | after = Peter DeBoer}}

{{succession box | before = David Quinn | title = Head coach of the New York Rangers | years = 2021–2023 | after = Peter Laviolette}}

Category:1963 births

Category:Living people

Category:Atlanta Knights players

Category:Canada men's national ice hockey team coaches

Category:Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States

Category:Canadian ice hockey coaches

Category:Canadian ice hockey left wingers

Category:Canadian people of Acadian descent