Gerard Gallant: “I’m waiting for the next opportunity and I hope it comes soon”
Winning World Championship Gold has already elevated Gerard Gallant’s profile even higher than it was before he went over to Latvia. Now, fresh off the heels of winning the tournament expectations are that several other teams will be lining up either an initial or second interview as soon as he returns.
There’s already rampant speculation that second interviews are lined up with the Kraken, Blue Jackets, and Rangers. The Sabres are also expected to line up Gallant for an interview this week.
Gerard Gallant hoping next opportunity comes soon
After winning Gold, Gallant was also asked what he would remember the most about the tournament. “Just the guys – they never quit,” he replied. “When we were 0-3 we talked about we know what we have to do to…It’s going to be good for everyone’s careers, we are the youngest team here. I’m real proud of this group and it’s been a lot of fun.”
Roberto Luongo is Team Canada’s GM and heaped praise on Gallant, calling him a player’s coach. The consensus from those who know him well is that he gets his team to commit and then play hard for him. This is why he’s at the top of every team’s list with a vacant coaching job.
“I’m waiting for the next opportunity and I hope it comes soon,” Gallant said via The Athletic. “Not sure what’s it going to be. I’m having conversations with some teams and hopefully something happens.’’
That opportunity is expected to come some time this month. The NHL Draft is still a long ways away on July 23rd and 24th. Teams usually prefer to have a coach in place by that time, although one team executive told me it isn’t as necessary in hockey as it is in football.
Still, Gallant is being aggressively pursued by many teams and it would be wise to get this one done before the best free agent coach is off the market.
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