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What Makes Gerard Gallant Special? Smith, MacKenzie & Trocheck Speak |
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Sheng Peng
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Gerard Gallant hailing a cab is the last, and perhaps lasting image, of Gallant's tenure behind the Florida Panthers bench.
That's unfortunate. For his Panthers players, Gallant meant so much more. You wouldn't usually describe a coach as "beloved," but in this case, you could say that.
Gallant was also a runner-up for the Jack Adams Trophy in 2015-16, leading Florida to a team record 103 points.
So while Gallant tried to play off tonight's tilt with the visiting Panthers as nothing special, I would expect his players to be at their best tonight for him.
I caught up with Reilly Smith, along with Panthers Derek MacKenzie and Vincent Trocheck, to talk all things Gallant. Smith tells us what makes Gallant a player's coach and MacKenzie teases Turk a bit.
(Interview presented in group format for length. Smith, MacKenzie, and Trocheck were all interviewed separately.)
HockeyBuzz: What's special about Turk? How has he impacted your career?
Reilly Smith: He's a player's coach.
He's definitely helped improve my game. I've been fortunate enough that he's given me a lot of opportunity.
Vincent Trocheck: Just the fact that he's a great guy away from the rink definitely helps how he translates into being a coach.
He's a player's coach. He'll talk to us. You can approach him. He helped us with anything we needed. If we ever had an issue, we could come to him.
(HockeyBuzz note: Before Smith came to Florida in 2015-16, he not used on the PK a lot by Boston or Dallas. That season, he was the Panthers' most-used penalty killer up front.)
HB: What makes Gerard Gallant a player's coach?
Derek MacKenzie: If you go back, and watch the way he played, the things he did, the way he took care of teammates, just an honest guy. Wears his emotions on his sleeve. You know where you stand. There's no hidden agendas.
As a player, 82 games is a long season. A lot of ups and downs. It's nice when you get eliminate [where] you stand with the coach [as a worry.] You know what he expects. He's not going to drive it down your throat.
It's just be a professional. Play your game. Help the team win.
RS: Just full transparency. That goes a long way with players at this level.
HB: Derek, Gallant has mentioned you as one of his favorite players to coach. What does that mean to you?
DM: That means a lot. Especially, coaching aside, the way he used to play. The way he expects guys to play.
For him to say something like that, that's something I definitely cherish.
He and I arrived at Florida in the same year. I thought he did a great job bringing guys together quickly. He's obviously done that again here.
HB: Turk said he played a little dirty at times. Is that something you guys in the locker room could relate to also?
DM: A pretty tough guy.
We joke, because he tries to tell me he weighed almost the same [as I weigh now when he played]. I don't know, he's got me by a few lbs now.
I can remember him taking care of Stevie Y, playing that way. I've never asked Stevie, but I'm sure he's pretty thankful that he had Gerard on his line.
(HB note: MacKenzie is listed at 181 lbs.)
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