Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Golden Knights fire ex-Panthers coach Gallant
The Vegas Golden Knights have abruptly fired former Florida Panthers coach Gerard Gallant and replaced him with Peter DeBoer, another former Panthers coach.
Gallant was let go Wednesday — less than two years after leading the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season. Gallant, whose team lost to the Washington Capitals in the 2018 Stanley Cup Final, was named NHL coach of the year after leading the first-year franchise on its historic run.
That team also featured two former Panthers on their top line in Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith. In the 2018 playoffs, Marchessault led the team in scoring, while Smith was second.
Gallant coached the Panthers for three years (2014-17), leading them to the 2016 playoffs, before joining the expansion Knights for the 2017-18 season.
He will be replaced by former San Jose Sharks coach, DeBoer, who coached the Panthers for three seasons (2008-11) before joining the New Jersey Devils (2011-15) and Sharks (2015-20).
Vegas (24-19-6) also fired assistant coach Mike Kelly, Gallant’s former Panthers assistant who he hired in Vegas after they were both fired by the Panthers.
“In order for our team to reach its full potential, we determined a coaching change was necessary. Our team is capable of more than we have demonstrated this season,” Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon said in a statement. “We would like to thank Gerard and Mike for their service to the Vegas Golden Knights. They were both instrumental to the success we have enjoyed in our first two-plus seasons and we wish them all the best moving forward.
“In Peter DeBoer, we have a proven, experienced head coach who we believe can help us achieve our ultimate goal. We are excited to welcome Peter and his family to the Vegas Golden Knights organization. We look forward to a strong finish to the 2019-20 season with Peter at the helm and a successful tenure in the seasons to come.”
The Golden Knights have lost four consecutive games, dropping them out of playoff position in the hotly contested Western Conference.
Ironically, the Golden Knights lost in the first round of the playoffs in seven games last season — to the Sharks and DeBoer.
DeBoer, who was fired by San Jose last month after his team struggled for much of the season, led the Sharks to the Stanley Cup Final in 2015-16. They lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games.