Report: Gilbert to be next Dogs head coach

The Saint John Sea Dogs will reportedly name Greg Gilbert the team's new head coach. This according to Craig Eagles of Rogers TV.

The @SJSeaDogs have hired former Calgary Flames head coach Greg Gilbert as their new bench boss.
Expect an official announcement soon. @QMJHL @CHLHockey pic.twitter.com/oryxhdjo0Q

— Craig Eagles (@Eags37) June 18, 2020

Eagles reported Wednesday that Gilbert was a person of interest for the Sea Dogs given his coaching history - which includes previously coaching Sea Dogs interim head coach Jeff Cowan (NHL - Calgary) and assistant coach Stefan Legein (OHL - Mississauga).

In a Facebook Live interview earlier this week, Sea Dogs president and general manager Trevor Georgie gave the impression that both Cowan and Legein would remain with the club - the major question being in what roles.

"Jeff (Cowan) has done a great job as interim head coach," Georgie said. "Him and (assistant coach Stefan Legein) took the team on quite the ride in early December and after Christmas. They've done a great job with the team.

"For us, for our coaching for next season, we're still in the process of deciding. There will be a third coach in our mix with Jeff and Stef. What that looks like, who that may be and what the functions of each will be is yet to be determined. It's something that we're looking at and now that the draft is over we're looking at it with a little bit more attention."

Gilbert has 20 years of coaching experience but, according to Elite Prospects, has not coached since 2016 when he was fired by the OHL's Saginaw Spirit. Gilbert, 58, spent five seasons with the Spirit, leaving with a 134-134-26 regular season record and a 7-18 mark in the playoffs. Saginaw only made it past the opening round of the post-season once during his tenure.

Gilbert was also the head coach of the OHL's Mississauga IceDogs for three seasons, reaching the OHL final in 2003-04.

The Mississauga native was the head coach of the Calgary Flames for parts of three seasons from 2000-01 to 2002-03. Gilbert has also been a head coach at the AHL level a few times, leading Worcester, Toronto and Adirondack.

Gilbert also has plenty of NHL playing experience, appearing in 837 career games and winning three Stanley Cups.

If this report turns out to be accurate, Gilbert would become the eighth head coach in Sea Dogs history.