Gallant and Chabot Join Islanders Coaching Staff

[Isles4life]

Islanders head coach Ted Nolan has announced that former Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Gerard Gallant and former QMJHL head coach John Chabot have been hired as assistant coaches for the 2007-08 season. They will be joined by current assistant coach Dan Lacroix.

"I've always had the utmost respect for Gerard and John both as players and coaches," said Nolan. "We have a coaching staff with a ton of experience, both playing in the NHL and coaching and that will be a huge asset to our players. Along with the experience, the knowledge of the game Gerard and John bring is outstanding. Along with Dan [Lacroix], we'll have a well-rounded coaching staff for next season."

Gallant became the head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets during the 2003-04 season and held that post into the 2006-07 season. Prior to that, he was an assistant coach with Columbus from 2001-02 until accepting the head coaching post. Gallant has also coached in the AHL with the Louisville Panthers and in the Canadian Junior A circuit.

As a left wing in the NHL, Gallant was a veteran of 615 games playing with the Detroit Red Wings and Tampa Bay Lightning and scored 211 goals with 269 assists for 480 points. Gallant was named to the NHL Second All-Star Team in 1989. He was drafted by Red Wings in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft with the 107th overall pick.

Chabot was most recently the head coach of the Acadie-Bathurst Titan of the QMJHL. He was hired by the organization in February 2006 and turned a losing season into one that fell just one win short of a Memorial Cup berth. He was also with Hull/Gatineau Olympiques from 2001-02 until 2005-06 as an assistant and later a head coach.

As a center in the NHL, Chabot was a veteran of 508 games playing for the Montreal Canadiens, Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings. He recorded 84 career goals with 228 assists for 312 points. He was drafted by Montreal in the second round of the 1980 NHL Entry Draft. As a junior player with the Hull Olympiques in 1982, he was named the league's MVP and also to the First All-Star Team and to the Memorial Cup Tournament All-Star Team.

[mongoose]

with gallant aboard maybe johnson will make the team.