5 NHL teams who should hire Gerard Gallant right now

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 27: Head coach Gerard Gallant of the Vegas Golden Knights takes questions during a news conference following the team's 5-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks at T-Mobile Arena on October 27, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

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Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images /

2. Winnipeg Jets

Paul Maurice has been the head coach of the Winnipeg Jets since January 12, 2014, which makes him the second-longest tenured head coach in the NHL, trailing only Jon Cooper in Tampa. During that time, he has taken the Jets to the postseason thrice (2015, 2018, 2019). They failed to make it out of the first round in 2015 and 2019.

I think it’s time for the Jets to part ways with Maurice. He’s been relatively successful in Winnipeg, but they’ve been underachieving for well over a year now. The Jets are simply too talented to be where they are – barely hanging onto a wild card spot.

What’s scary is the Jets should be a lot worse. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has masked a lot of their flaws. The Jets problems aren’t roster related. Sure, their blueline is bad. But it was also bad last year when it was better. No team that has Patrik Laine, Mark Scheifele, Kyle Connor, Nikolaj Ehlers, and Blake Wheeler should be fighting tooth and nail for a playoff spot.

One thing Gallant does well is getting his players to buy-in. If they buy-in, they’re going to have success. That’s a fact Gallant has proven in recent years. He commands respect but at the same time, he is still a player’s coach because he understands his players. Gallant knows how to push the right buttons. He’s a coach who could help the Jets unleash their true potential.

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