1:24 PM: Darryl Sutter said that he would like to see Gallant win the award.
10:32 AM: The NHL has announced that Gerard Gallant has been named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award.
The award is presented annually “to the coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team’s success.”
No Ranger coach has ever won the award but Alain Vigneault (2014-15), John Tortorella (2011-12), Tom Renney (2005-06), Roger Neilson (1989-90, 1991-92), and Fred Shero (1978-79) have all been finalists.
Calgary’s Darryl Sutter and Florida’s Andrew Brunette are the other finalists.
From the NHL: “Gallant became just the second head coach in franchise history to win 50+ games in his first season. guiding the Rangers (52-24-6, 110 points) to their best record since capturing the Presidents’ Trophy in 2014-15. The team’s overall League position (7th overall) represented its third-best finish in the past 25 seasons. The Blueshirts’ team defense ranked second in the League at 2.49 goals-against per game, holding the opposition to two goals or fewer in 45 games including nine shutouts. The Rangers power play ranked fourth in the NHL at 25.2%, their best success rate with the man advantage in 42 years. Gallant has been voted a Jack Adams finalist for the third time, with his third different club. He finished second with Florida in 2015-16 and captured the award with Vegas in 2017-18. He looks to become the first Rangers coach in franchise history to receive Jack Adams honors.”
From the Rangers:
- Gallant, 58, is a Jack Adams finalist for the third time in his career, winning the award with Vegas in 2017-18 and earning a Top-3 finish in 2015-16 with Florida.
- Gallant is the 15th coach, since the award was first presented in 1973-74, to be named a finalist for Jack Adams in three-or-more seasons.
- He becomes the ninth coach to be named a finalist for three or more different teams, joining John Tortorella, Scotty Bowman, Alain Vigneault, Pat Burns, Barry Trotz, Pat Quinn, Joel Quenneville, and Brian Sutter.
- In his first season at the helm with the Blueshirts, Gallant led the Rangers to a 52-24-6 mark for 110 points. Their 52 wins were tied for the second most in team history and their 110 points were the third most in a single season in franchise history.
- With the 50-plus wins, Gallant became the second head coach in NHL history to record 50-plus wins in their first season with multiple franchises (also 51 w/ VGK in 2017-18), joining Mike Keenan (53 w/ PHI in 1984-85, 52 w/NYR in 1993-94).
- With Gallant behind the bench, multiple Rangers brought their games to new heights.
- Of the 25 active skaters at the end of the regular season, 18 recorded or tied their career highs in either goals, assists, or points.
- Eight skaters notched career-highs in all three categories. In addition, the 2021-22 Rangers were the 10th team in NHL history, and first since Pittsburgh in 2011-12, to finish with at least 50 wins, at least 100 points, and had a 50-goal scorer, a 90-point scorer, and a goalie with at least 36 wins.
Adam Rotter: I haven’t always loved Gallant’s approach and his relentless accentuate the positive vibe, but it’s worked and helped put the Rangers into the second round of the playoffs. He was the perfect coach for this team and kept them believing that they were never out of a game and that winning, no matter how it was really done, was all that mattered. He connected with this group, brought them to this level and this is a very deserving honor.