Gerard Gallant, Florida Panthers coach, glad to be back on P.E.I. for summer

He might be getting a few more congratulations this summer, but Gerard Gallant says coming home to P.E.I. as the NHL's coach of the year runnerup is no different than any other year.

"I know most of the people in my town," said the Summerside native, who guided the Florida Panthers to a 47-26 record this year.

"They say, 'Congratulations, you had a great year, I wish you well' and all that stuff but nothing different, people don't bother me, I do my own thing and I have my own friends and we do what we want to do and I think it's great."

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Speaking to CBC News: Compass host Bruce Rainnie on Friday, Gallant admitted he was a little nervous when the coach of the year was announced at the NHL Awards in Las Vegas last month.

"I'm not a guy who likes to do speeches so I was worried if I had've won I would've had to get up there in front of all those people," he said with a smile.

This is my home, this has always been my home ... Summertime I'll be in P.E.I. always.- Gerard Gallant

"But you know what, it would've been fun, it would've been great."

Washington Capitals coach Barry Trotz won the award. He deserved it, Gallant said.

"He had a great team, he did a great job."

High expectations

Gallant said when he was hired as the Florida coach two years ago, the Panthers had "a core of players ready to take off."

Now, after finishing first in the Atlantic Division last season, the expectations will be high for Gallant and the Panthers next year.

"I'd love to win the Stanley Cup but first things first, you have to make the playoffs," he said.

"Any team that makes the playoffs a has a chance to win the Stanley Cup. I don't think next year you can go in and say Pittsburgh going to win the Cup. Years ago you could have said that but now the league is so close."

Charity golf tournaments

For now, Gallant will focus on enjoying his P.E.I. summer. He'll play in a few charity golf tournaments, including ones in Summerside and Charlottetown hosted by the Boys and Girls Club.

"This is my home, this has always been my home," he said. "My family's here, all my wife's family's here. We love it here. So no matter if I'm in the NHL or Saint John or wherever I'm at, summertime I'll be in P.E.I. always.

"Florida's great in the wintertime, though."

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