He said on Tuesday that should the award come his way any acceptance speech would last 45 seconds.
It went 1:58.
In the understated world of Gerard Gallant, that’s comparable to a Rand Paul filibuster.
Gallant on Wednesday night received the Jack Adams Award as NHL Coach of the Year, which in the context of deserving nods, think Daniel Day-Lewis and the Oscar for, “My Left Foot.”
Had the winner’s card not read Gallant’s name, it would have reduced those hanging chads in Florida some years back to a minor controversy.
He was that much a shoe-in, having proven more than worthy during the season, playing an incredibly significant role in creating all that the Golden Knights delivered.