Gerard Gallant takes over as expansion Vegas Golden Knights' first coach
Gerard Gallant has been officially tapped as the first head coach of the expansion Vegas Golden Knights, the team announced on Thursday.
This will be Gallant’s third stint as an NHL head coach. His most recent run concluded when he was fired in his third season with the Florida Panthers -- a team he led to a division title the previous season -- in November. Gallant also coached the Blue Jackets for parts of three seasons.
“He is an experienced head coach, has had success at multiple levels and has a great reputation amongst the players who have played for him,” general manager George McPhee said in a statement. “We undertook a very detailed due diligence process over the last several months and canvassed a number of qualified head coaching candidates to ensure we found the best coach for our group.”
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A news conference has been scheduled for 3 pm ET. The Golden Knights begin play next season.
"Being named the first head coach in Vegas Golden Knights history is such a tremendous opportunity and one I am extremely grateful for," Gallant said in a statement. "There is a great deal of excitement in the hockey community regarding what is happening with the Golden Knights, and I am glad to now be a part of the team."