Gerard Gallant falls short as Darryl Sutter wins Jack Adams Award
Gerard Gallant was one of three finalists for the Jack Adams Award this season going up against Darryl Sutter of the Calgary Flames and Andrew Brunette of the Florida Panthers.
“It’s an honor,” Gallant said after learning he was up for the award. “Being out the last two years, the team’s been excellent this year, we’re a young team, so it was definitely an honor being in that group. When you look at the top ten teams there are a lot of good coaches. For me anyone of the ten could’ve been nominated and had a chance to win.”
On Thursday, the NHL announced Sutter as the winner. His Flames finished first in the Pacific with a 50-21-11 record but were bounced by the Edmonton Oilers in the second round.
This is the first ever Jack Adams Award for Darryl and his brother Brian presented it to him. He won it in 1991 as coach of the St. Louis Blues.
Sutter would’ve voted for Gallant
Oddly enough, when Sutter learned of the nomination he said he’d vote for Gallant.
“I’d rather see young guys win it, quite honest,” Sutter said. “Or guys that maybe got a raw deal somewhere like a guy like Gerard (Gallant). Got a raw deal in Florida, got a raw deal in Vegas. I know who I’d vote for.”
Sutter was referring to Gallant’s unceremoniously being dismissed by the Panthers in 2016. After a 3-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, he was fired. He was then asked to remove his luggage off the team bus and get his own taxi to the airport.
Gallant was once again let go by the Vegas Golden Knights in 2020, after guiding them to a Stanley Cup Final appearance during their inaugural season.
When he was told about Sutter’s endorsement Gallant said, “I think he feels sorry for me for all the times I got fired.”
In the end, I’m pretty sure Sutter would rather the script was flipped and his Flames were battling in the Conference Final with Gallant home accepting this award.
Rangers fans are happy with the way it’s worked out.
Gallant, 58, led the Rangers to a 52-24-6 mark for 110 points in his first season with the team. Those numbers were good for second most wins (52) and third highest points (110).
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