A rumor according to which the management of the Montreal Canadiens met with Gerard Gallant over the weekend in Toronto was denied by TVA Sports informant Renaud Lavoie on Monday.
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“Contrary to what is currently circulating, no member of the Canadiens organization has met Gerard Gallant. Whether in Toronto or elsewhere,” wrote Renaud Lavoie on his X account (formerly Twitter).
The former CH assistant coach under the leadership of Michel Therrien between 2012 and 2014 would therefore not have had a meeting with Kent Hughes and Martin St-Louis, as reported by Georges Laraque on BPM Sports on Monday.
According to what the CH indicated to the few members of the Montreal media present in Buffalo, Hughes and St-Louis did indeed hold a meeting in a restaurant in the Queen City, but they were accompanied by Adam Nicholas, the director of the team hockey development.
Aged 61, Gallant has led four NHL teams since the start of his career. He began his career behind the Blue Jackets bench during the 2001-2002 season as an assistant before taking the reins of the team during the 2003-2004 campaign.
After losing his job at the start of the 2006-2007 season, he served as an assistant with the New York Islanders, before opting for a head coaching position with the Saint John Sea Dogs in the QMJHL. He also led the New Brunswick team to two league championships in three seasons.
He then worked behind the CH bench for two years before agreeing to lead the Florida Panthers. He led the team to the playoffs in 2015-16, but lost his job after just 22 games the following season.
Gallant led the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Final in his first season after being hired in the off-season.
Hired by Rangers in 2021, he managed the club for two campaigns.
