The Adirondack Phantoms have signed former NHL head coach Greg Gilbert as their new bench boss. The sixteen-year NHL veteran has made numerous coaching stops around the country since his retirement in 1997. Most notably, he coached the Calgary Flames from 2000 to 2003, missing the playoffs in 2001 and 2002 before being replaced 25 games into the 2002/03 season.
Since leaving the NHL, Gilbert has worked his way back up through the ranks. He led the Ontario Hockey League’s Mississauga IceDogs for three seasons before joining the AHL’s Toronto Marlies as head coach in 2007. In two full seasons with the Marlies, Gilbert compiled an 89-50-21 record. His contract was not retained by Toronto after this season’s playoff exit to Manitoba in the division semifinals.
In the first year of his coaching career, Gilbert was named the AHL’s Coach of the Year as he led the 1996-97 Worcester IceCats to a 43-23-9 record. Gilbert probably feels at home in New York state, given that he is the only player in NHL history to win a Stanley Cup with both the Rangers (1994) and the Islanders (1982 and 1983).
