"I Still Don't Feel Like I Am Ready To Retire": Ex-Rangers Fan Favourite Doesn't Rule Out Return To The NHL
Former New York Rangers head coach hasn't ruled out a return to the National Hockey League as he just revealed he is not ready to retire after landing a new coaching position overseas.
Gerard Gallant has just landed a new coaching job with the Shanghai Dragons of the Kontinental Hockey League, after being denied a coaching opportunity in the National Hockey league, as his most recent position was the coaching the Rangers in the 2022-23 season.
Despite not landing a job in the NHL, Gallant has started a new chapter with The Dragons, who recently rebranded after years as Kunlun Red Star, and surprising he has been very optimistic with such a drastic change.
«It is a different level because there are no Panarins and no Chris Kreiders in the KHL,» Gallant told RG in an exclusive interview. «But it does not matter. The KHL is a good level of hockey, a very high level. We still have lots of skill and talent on our team. But your job as a coach is to try to make your team better. That is what we will try to do as coaches."
The 61-year old seems to be making an impact on the team as they already pulled off their first victory.
Gerard Gallant Looking To Return To The National Hockey League
During a recent interview, Gallant revealed that he was not ready to retire from coaching, which is why he took this opportunity despite such a drastic change.
"We talked about this offer with my family and everybody said, 'You are only 61 years old, and you want to coach again?' It was the best opportunity, and I said, 'I will give it a try.' I wanted to try it, it was something new, and it was going to be tough. But I said, 'I want to try, I want to keep coaching.' I still do not feel like I am ready to retire.»
Certainly words that reflect the mindset of a coach who is looking to prove all the General Mangers in the National Hockey League wrong for not giving him another chance.
However, depending on the outcome of his season with the Shanghai Dragons, he could surely gain the interest of GM's in the NHL and maybe return one day.
Previously on NY Hockey Insider
| POLL | ||
AOUT 30 | 133 ANSWERS "I Still Don't Feel Like I Am Ready To Retire": Ex-Rangers Fan Favourite Doesn't Rule Out Return To The NHL Do you think Gerard Gallant will ever return to the National Hockey League? | ||
| Yes | 80 | 60.2 % |
| No | 53 | 39.8 % |
| List of polls | ||