COLUMBUS, Ohio - Former Lightning player Gerard Gallant was elevated from assistant to coach of the Blue Jackets after Doug MacLean stepped down, having failed to duplicate the success he had in Florida.
MacLean remains president and general manager of the Blue Jackets, who have the worst record in the league and face the Lightning today at the St. Pete Times Forum.
"We have a lot of guys who haven't played to their potential. I hope I was the reason for that," MacLean said. "Now, they won't have that for an excuse."
MacLean coached the Panthers to the 1996 Stanley Cup final in the franchise's third season.
Gallant, an assistant with the Blue Jackets since their inception 31/2 years ago and a veteran of more than 600 career games, played 51 games with the 1993-94 Lightning.
Gallant, 40, broke into the league with the Red Wings in 1984 and averaged 72 games and 56 points over the next eight seasons. He had four consecutive 70-plus point seasons from 1986-90.
"It takes 20 guys that compete every night," Gallant said. "It can't be 15 or 14 guys.
"It can't be Rick Nash scoring every goal for us. It's got to be different guys. I'm going to demand that they all compete and play hard."
The 49-year-old MacLean had a record of 24-43-8-4 as Blue Jackets coach.
He fired Dave King, the franchise's first coach, last January and took over on an interim basis. He took the job full-time in June.
The Blue Jackets have struggled from the outset this season. They were the last team to win a road game, beating Chicago on Dec. 26, and have lost six in a row at home.
