The NHL expansion Las Vegas Golden Knights have reportedly found their coach. According to reliable TSN reporter Darren Dreger, Gerard Gallant will be the first head coach of the Golden Knights.
Gerard Gallant will be the Vegas Golden Knights first NHL head coach. Quality hockey dept in Vegas.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) April 13, 2017
Gallant wasn’t out of work long.
After two full seasons with the Florida Panthers, the 53-year-old was fired just 21 games into the season after the Panthers won just 11 of their first 21 games. The decision was met with plenty of controversy as Gallant was widely respected around the league and had just come off a 1st place finish in the Atlantic Division with the Panthers in 2015-16.
Firing Gallant was widely criticized league-wide by old-school hockey thinkers. Don Cherry said the firing was the “worst firing” in league history.
Gallant has been connected with the Golden Knights since the franchise’s inception. Former St. Louis Blues coach Ken Hitchcock and New York Islanders bench boss Jack Capuano had previously been connected to the opening.
Personally, I don’t think Gallant is an amazing coach by any stretch of the imagination. However, for a team looking to find their footing in the league, he’s a completely reasonable choice. Gallant’s got tangible experience as a NHL head coach with both Florida and Columbus, and he has worked with rebuilding squads.
With a coach in place, Vegas will now have to begin to build their roster beyond Reid Duke. The expansion draft is just over two months away, so Gallant, Golden Knights’ GM George McPhee and the rest of the organization’s brain trust will have to work quickly to get on the same page.
The hiring is another reminder: Hockey is coming to Vegas. Get ready.
