Report: Boudreau and Gallant both linked to Kraken coaching job

With so much uncertainty surrounding the NHL and the 2020-21 season these days, it's hard to believe that the league is set to introduce a new expansion franchise in 2021-22. The Seattle Kraken will officially hit the ice in 2021 but we don't yet know who will be calling the shots behind the bench for the Kraken, though. 

Adam Gretz of NBC Sports takes a look at the potential options available to Kraken GM Ron Francis and he highlights two frontrunners: Gerard Gallant and Bruce Boudreau. Pretty obvious, right? Two veteran NHL coaches with plenty of experience.

From Gretz:

1. Gerard Gallant. Probably the name that will top every potential Seattle list. Gallant is an outstanding coach and obviously has some pretty significant experience working with a new franchise and helping to build it from the ground up. It is stunning he is even available at this point. Given his initial success in Vegas there would probably be an unrealistic expectation for the same thing to happen in Seattle, but Gallant does not strike me as the type of coach that would be bothered by that.

2. Bruce Boudreau. Boudreau has proven to be one of the best coaches in hockey, while the timing of his dismissal in Minnesota this past season was … odd. You can hold the lack of a Stanley Cup against him, you can accuse his teams of folding late in playoff series, but the guy wins and he consistently puts his teams in position to succeed. He should be coaching in the NHL somewhere.

This seems like a no-brainer to me...

Boudreau is a GREAT NHL coach, no question about it. But Gallant literally JUST went through this process. He was the man behind the bench for the Vegas Golden Knights in their inaugural season and led them on a magical Stanley Cup Final run. In my eyes there is literally no better candidate to be the head coach of an expansion NHL franchise than Gallant. OH... and he just happens to be unemployed and looking for a new NHL job. It's the type of match that you dream of... all Ron Francis has to do is put pen to paper and officially hire Gallant. Let's go!

For the full article from Gretz, click below: