Canadiens Rumors: Did Montreal Meet With Gerard Gallant?

Rumors of a meeting between Montreal Canadiens management and veteran coach Gerard Gallant in Toronto stirred a lot of speculation among fans this week. 

The story originated from former Canadiens enforcer Georges Laraque, who claimed on BPM Sports that a source had shown him a photo of Canadiens GM Kent Hughes and head coach Martin St. Louis allegedly meeting Gallant in a Toronto café. 

Laraque suggested this could indicate the Canadiens were exploring the idea of adding an experienced coach to support St. Louis, though he did not imply that Gallant would replace him.

Laraque's news: someone he knows was in a café in Toronto and saw Kent Hughes, MSL and Gerard Gallant together.

That's it.

— Habs Chronicle (@HabsChronicle) November 11, 2024

Une solution comme assistant coach pour épauler MST, Gerard Gallant! Le CH doit agir parce que le club régresse! Gerard Gallant would be a good assistant coach for MST! The team gotta do something right now because the team is not going in the right direction! @CanadiensMTL

— Georges Laraque (@GeorgesLaraque) November 10, 2024

However, the Canadiens swiftly denied these claims. 

TVA Sports’ Renaud Lavoie reported that “no member of the Canadiens organization met with Gerard Gallant, whether in Toronto or elsewhere.” 

Hughes himself directly refuted the rumors, telling La Presse, “I have never spoken to Gerard Gallant in my life. The last time I saw him was at the awards ceremony in Las Vegas when he won the Jack Adams.” 

Hughes clarified that his meeting in Toronto included only St. Louis and Adam Nicholas, the team’s director of hockey development.

Pierre LeBrun: "I called Gerard Gallant & he told me, 'l wasn't in Toronto. I didn't meet the Habs, I haven't spoken to the Habs.’ He sounded surprised, maybe it was just someone who looked like him but he absolutely denied this rumour.” https://t.co/7res8YSrtu

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) November 12, 2024

The swift denials from Hughes and multiple media sources have put the rumors to rest, reinforcing the organization’s confidence in its current coaching staff despite a challenging start to the season. 

For now, any link to Gallant has seemingly been firmly dismissed, with Hughes reiterating that no discussions have taken place.

Photo Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-Imagn Images