Behind the Bench: Possible Futures for Nashville Predators
By Colin Blouin
Hot Name in NHL Circles
There’s a head coaching candidate just sitting out there, waiting to be claimed, and he has a helluva resumé. This guy took a franchise that was irrelevant for quite some time, and turned them into a playoff contender and division winner in 2015 – 2016, before being fired for going 11-10-1 (better than Hynes current record). He was then hired to lead an expansion franchise in 2017-2018…
Yup, I’m talking about Gerard Gallant.
That expansion franchise, the Vegas Golden Knights, would go on to finish first in its division, and make a cinderella run through the Stanley Cup Playoffs where it fell 4-1 (to former Nashville Predators coach Barry Trotz).
Gallant was named the NHL Jack Adams (Coach of the Year) Recipient in 2018. He followed up the Stanley Cup run with a 43-32-7 season, good enough for third in the Pacific Division before being unceremoniously let go during the 2019-2020 season after going 24-19-6 (once again, better than Hynes current trajectory). Ever since, he’s been waiting for his phone to ring.
My point is, Gallant has had success in multiple stops. In a league where even the most mediocre of coaches (don’t make me say who I’m thinking of…you already know) get second, and even third chances, why shouldn’t a proven winner like Gallant?
Gallant clearly knows how to find chemistry with what he’s given – something the Nashville Predators sorely lack, but he also knows how to develop young talent, having one an IIHF Gold Medal in 2007 on Andy Murray’s staff.
If there is one coaching candidate who I believe is worthy of a chance, it’s Gerard Gallant.