Head coach Gerald Gallant reveals severe frustration over lack of NHL head interest
Gerard Gallant has taken to the wire to voice his frustrations, as he had to take his coaching talents to the Shanghai Dragons in the KHL, as his last NHL job was with the New York Rangers, which resulted in a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals.
As a former Jack Adams Award winner, he took the expansion Vegas Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup finals in their first season.
As a scrappy team, they put up a fight against Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals.
However, the job would test his ability to maintain relevance in the NHL coaching carousel.
Two seasons in New York, of which neither was terrible, but GM Chris Drury still fired him regardless.
Gallant would state his frustration with his situation:
"I've been out for two seasons and nothing has happened yet. Am I a little pissed off? Yes, but that's the way it goes, you wait for your turn and your opportunities," said Gallant. "I took this job with the mindset that I'm going to Russia and St. Petersburgh and I'm going to coach there. After the first year there's an out-clause and I'll look at something if something comes up."
New Beginnings in Shanghai, formerly the Kunlun Red Stars for Gerald Gallant
Since he's failed to find a new job in the NHL after 3 years of patience, he's decided to take his talents overseas.
The Shanghai Dragons have given him another shot at coaching, to which they hope he can take them to a Gagarin Cup in the KHL.
The Kunlun Red Star, aka the Shanghai Dragons, had one former NHL coach behind the bench near the beginning of their start, with Mike Keenan's visceral nature raging over the KHL.
Gallant, a former Red Wing, will bring his winning pedigree over to China in order to turn the scrappy team into competitors for good.
The Shanghai Dragons have played in St. Petersburg, Russia, since the beginning of the ongoing pandemic and play in the Tarasov Division of the KHL.
Now, his goal is to get the Dragons into the playoffs and put his name back on the radar for NHL GMs everywhere.
Previously on Red Wings Insider
POLL |
AOUT 17 | 393 ANSWERS Head coach Gerald Gallant reveals severe frustration over lack of NHL head interest Do you think Head Coach Gerard Gallant, a former New York Ranger, will succeed in the KHL? |
Yes | 294 | 74.8 % |
No | 99 | 25.2 % |
List of polls |