Former New York Rangers Head Coach Officially Takes His Talents to the KHL In A Shocking Deal
Former New York Rangers Head Coach Gerard Gallant took the team to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2022. Instead of being rewarded after two years of consistent coaching in the Metropolitan Division, he'd be fired by GM Chris Drury. He took the Vegas Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2018, and despite that history of success, it wouldn't be able to stop his career coming to a halt, as he now heads to the KHL.
Gerard Gallant has a funny history in the NHL. He has years of success, where he gained notortiety for taking a scrappy, group of misfits to the Stanley Cup finals in 2018.
He'd experience consistent trips to the playoffs with the Golden Knights, but that wouldn't stop his eventual demise with the team in 2020.
He'd soon join the Rangers organization for two years afterwards, and would take the team to the Eastern Conference finals in 2022.
Instead of being rewarded, like his time in Florida, he'd get disrespected as he was fired. Fortunately, the team didn't leave him stranded at the airport, though.
That was cold, Dale Tallon.
According to recent reports, he'll be heading to the KHL to join a list of past NHL coaches in an attempt to revive their careers there.
Bob Hartley was another NHL coach who would win a Gagarin Cup with the Avangard Omsk, while Mike Keenan ultimately fizzled out for good in China with the Kunlun Red Star.
He'll be headed to China to join the newest enterprise in the East, professional hockey.
The Red Star originally played their first season in the KHL in 2016, and played their first match against the Traktor Chelyabinsk.
Their roster of former coaches includes Mike Keenan (Yikes), and Mikhail Kravets, whom he'll be taking over for.
Former Rangers players have suited up for the Red Star, including defenseman Adam Clendening.
There's hope that Gallant, whose record in the NHL 705-369-262-4, and a .576 percentage, can be the game changer the team needs to dig itself out of the bottom of the Tarasov Division.
They finished last with a record of 28-34-5-1, and could use someone who's done more with less in Vegas at the birth of a villain, where they were once considered underdogs.
Previously on NY Hockey Insider
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 18 | 303 ANSWERS Former New York Rangers Head Coach Officially Takes His Talents to the KHL In A Shocking Deal Can Head Coach Gerard Gallant, a former New York Ranger, turn the KHL's Kunlun Red Star around? | ||
| Yes | 222 | 73.3 % |
| No | 81 | 26.7 % |
| List of polls | ||