Gallant took on a Florida Panthers team that had mustered 66 points the year before he took over and a Vegas club in its inaugural season and was expected to be, at best, a bubble team. You seriously think he gives a damn where a team happens to be in the standings the year before he takes over?
Detroit has a proven GM at the helm and already has a decent amount of legit NHL prospects. Tanking now just means they're going to have yet another amazing player in the mix come 2020-2021. They also have roughly $23 million coming off the books this offseason, counting both RFAs and UFAs. And they're likely going to add some organizational depth when they deal away some pieces at the deadline as well.
Gerard Gallant played nearly his entire NHL career in Detroit, and even came back to play for the Detroit Vipers of the IHL (the same team Gordie Howe played his very last shift of hockey with) to finish it out. He's returned for alumni games as well. He has a lot of love for that franchise and I imagine if they asked for him back AND offered sufficient money he'd jump at the chance. He knows Yzerman is not a guy prone to knee-jerk reactions, unlike his previous two employers.
It may not happen, but I'll be the least surprised person around if it does. Personally if he has a choice between NJ and Detroit and doesn't take Detroit, I think he's crazy.
