We will never know how different it could have turned out.
Four years ago, Claude Julien and Gerard Gallant might have swapped hires and who knows exactly what that would have meant today.
In the wake of Julien’s resignation in February 2017 by the Boston Bruins, I heard he heard from two teams: Vegas and Montreal.
We know he agreed to the Canadiens’ offer, which was to coach the remainder of the 2016-17 season on his old Bruins contract that the Habs took over and then signed a five-year $ 25 million deal with Montreal that runs until and with June. 30, 2022.
It was exciting for Julien to return to Montreal, but he used his situation wisely to get a great contract too. Good for him.
And we know that a few months later, the Golden Knights hired Gallant as their first head coach.