Golden Knights tab Gallant as coach

Fifirst

LAS VEGAS — Kicked offff the bus by the Florida Panthers in November, Gerard Gallant has packed his bags for Las Vegas to take over as the fifirst coach of the NHL expansion Golden Knights.

“I interviewed in mid-January, and when I got the interview, I felt real comfortable coming in here. I interviewed for a day and a half, and it was an unbelievable experience. When I left, this was the job I wanted,” Gallant said Thursday at his introductory news conference.

General manager George McPhee cited Gallant’s experience and past success in announcing the hiring following what he called an extensive search of candidates.

“I know how he coaches; I know all about his reputation. He has an outstanding reputation and knows how to get the best out of players,” McPhee said. “... Experienced coaches are usually better with their second team. That was our goal.”

Gallant joins the Golden Knights some fifive months after being unceremoniously fifired by the Panthers immediately following a 3-2 loss to the Hurricanes at Carolina. Gallant’s luggage was removed from the team bus outside the arena, and he eventually had to take a taxi while the Panthers left him behind to continue their road trip to Chicago.

The abrupt fifiring came after the Panthers got offff to an 11-10-1 start, and a year after Gallant was a coach-of-the-year fifinalist in just his second season in Florida. In 2015-16, the Panthers set a franchise record with 47 wins and 103 points to fifinish fifirst in the Atlantic Division and secure their second playoffff berth in 15 seasons.