Quick Hits: The Red Wings & Gerard Gallant Edition

Jeff Hancock

• 2 min read Front Page

In Red Wings Land

Will Gerard Gallant, Steve Yzerman be reunited with Red Wings? | MLive

But now Gallant is available and Yzerman must consider a change, whether it’s now or after the season. And if he waits until after the season, which likely has been his thinking, the Red Wings will have more competition for Gallant.

Where will Gerard Gallant coach next? Analyzing seven potential destinations | Sportsnet

DETROIT RED WINGS

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So Yzerman still has to bring in “his guy” and Gallant could be it. They’re certainly familiar with each other, as they were teammates — and even linemates at times — for nine seasons in Detroit. Gallant was able to turn the non-playoff Florida Panthers into a post-season team in one year and his work with Vegas launched him well up the NHL coach rankings....

DETROIT RED WINGS

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That said, there’s no team on this list where Gallant’s hiring makes as much sense as it does in Detroit. Consider the following: of the 615 games Gallant played in the NHL, 563 were spent with the Red Wings. Every single one of his seasons in Detroit, too, was spent alongside Steve Yzerman, who just so happens to be the Red Wings GM. Connect those dots and there’s every reason to believe Detroit, who are going to be in need of a new coach in the near future, will put in a call to Gallant....

There was plenty of discussion about Gerard Gallant and Detroit in yesterday’s Quick Hits and I’m sure it’ll continue today too. I, for one, think he’ll be the next coach of the Wings, but I don’t think it’ll happen until after this season is over.

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Around the League

Craig’s List: Stutzle, Rossi climb NHL draft rankings | TSN

Alexis Lafreniere remains the clear top prospect in hockey, but a strong showing at the World Juniors has helped propel German winger Tim Stutzle into a tie for second with Sudbury Wolves centre Quinton Byfield in the January edition of Craig’s List ahead of the 2020 NHL Draft in Montreal.

Stutzle, a 19-year-old left winger who has five goals and 18 assists in 26 games this season for Adler Mannheim in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga, turned heads with a dynamic performance for his country over the holidays. He jumps five spots on this ranking after sitting at No. 7 in November.

Oh, really?

I’m not sure I’d take Tim Stützle over Quinton Byfield, but I’m a fan of him rising up the rankings. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again... if the Red Wings aren’t picking in the top two, Stützle is the guy I want Steve Yzerman to select.