Gallant scapegoat for Golden Knights’ roster weaknesses
The Vegas Golden Knights surprised the hockey world last week by firing head coach Gerard Gallant, replacing him with former San Jose Sharks bench boss Pete DeBoer.
Gallant became the seventh NHL coach to lose his job in 2019-20, and the second to be replaced by one who’d been fired earlier in the season. Time will tell if DeBoer has better luck behind the Vegas bench.
Winner of the Jack Adams Award in 2018 for guiding the then-expansion Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Final, Gallant became the scapegoat for their roster weaknesses. Inconsistent goaltending from Marc-Andre Fleury and Malcolm Subban and the lack of a proven No. 1 defenceman on their blue-line had Vegas sitting outside the Western Conference playoff picture at the time of Gallant's firing.
Facing pressure from ownership, management opted to shake things up. Firing the coach was the easiest move, but it still won’t address those roster issues.
Given Gallant's solid coaching credentials, the Summerside native won’t be unemployed for long. Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman could consider a change behind the bench for his rebuilding roster. With Gallant available, perhaps Yzerman will contact his longtime friend and former teammate. Seattle’s expansion franchise could also come calling.
BATTLE OF ALBERTA HEATING UP
The longstanding rivalry between the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers is heating up again. During a recent game, Oilers winger Zack Kassian took exception to two blindside hits from Flames winger Matthew Tkachuk and rained punches on the latter’s head.
Kassian received a two-game suspension from the league, prompting him to suggest he might repay Tkachuk with similar hits when the two clubs face each other again. Hulking Flames winger Milan Lucic said Kassian would have to face him if he went after Tkachuk again.
The league spoke to the managements of both clubs late last week hoping to cool things down. League disciplinarian George Parros is expected to attend the next game between these rivals on Jan. 29.
With the Flames and Oilers jockeying for playoff position in the tight Pacific Divisions standings, it’s rekindled an intensity in their rivalry reminiscent of their playoff battles in the 1980s. It’s a sign of things to come should they face each other in this year’s postseason.
NHL PROMOTING WOMEN'S HOCKEY
The NHL has added a special event to the upcoming 2020 NHL All-Star Game. In an attempt to promote women’s hockey, they’re staging a 3-on-3 game during All-Star weekend featuring members of the Canadian and U.S. national teams.
The aim is to promote women’s hockey in hope of staging a sustainable league. The Canadian Women’s Hockey League folded last year and most of its players balked at joining the American-based National Women's Hockey League.