NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 28: New York Rangers Head Coach Gerard Gallant is pictured during the National Hockey League game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the New York Rangers on March 28, 2023 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY.

Gallant defends record after Rangers' playoff exit: 'We had one bad week'

3 years ago

Icon Sportswire / Getty

Gerard Gallant doesn't think he should be held responsible for his New York Rangers bowing out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the first round.

The Blueshirts head coach insisted Wednesday that he's done enough to keep the job and added that he hasn't yet spoken to general manager Chris Drury about his future.

Gerard Gallant feels that the Rangers have had two strong years under his coaching:

"We had one bad week and it cost us. If I can't stand by my record, there's something wrong." pic.twitter.com/iMhlyZw9xP
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) May 3, 2023

Gallant took aim at reporters for mentioning the notion that he could be fired.

"I can't believe I have to answer some of these questions about me getting fired, brought up by the media. Disappointing."

- Gerard Gallant pic.twitter.com/MLNMqgTAqz
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) May 3, 2023

Gallant gave credit to the New Jersey Devils, who ousted the Rangers with a 4-0 victory in Game 7 on Monday night. The 59-year-old also noted the Presidents' Trophy-winning Boston Bruins and defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche came up short in their first-round matchups in these playoffs.

"Boston was a pretty good team, they lost. Colorado was a pretty good team, they lost. Should we have won? Yes. But it didn't happen."

- Gerard Gallant pic.twitter.com/f6oaDJJcjj
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) May 3, 2023

The Rangers finished this season in third place in the Metropolitan Division, five points behind the second-place Devils. Gallant was in his second season behind New York's bench. He guided the Rangers to a second-place finish in 2021-22. They reached the Eastern Conference Final but lost in six games to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Gallant has a 99-46-19 record with the Rangers, who hired him in June 2021. He coached the Vegas Golden Knights for three seasons, beginning with their inaugural campaign in 2017-18. The club fired him in January 2020.

The Prince Edward Island-born coach is under contract with the Rangers through 2024-25 and is earning $3.5 million annually, according to CapFriendly.

Gallant coached the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Florida Panthers before his stints in Vegas and New York.