Fansided

4 candidates to be the Seattle NHL team’s first head coach

By Brad Berreman

RALEIGH, NC - APRIL 28: Ron Francis speaks as he is named the new general manager of the Carolina Hurricanes during a press conference at PNC Arena on April 28, 2014 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - APRIL 28: Ron Francis speaks as he is named the new general manager of the Carolina Hurricanes during a press conference at PNC Arena on April 28, 2014 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/Getty Images) /
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Mandatory Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images /

1. Gerard Gallant

The Vegas Golden Knights were tied for first in the Pacific Division on Jan. 8, but a four-game losing streak led to his firing a week later. As is typically the case, poor goaltending cost Gallant his job.

Gallant was of course the first head coach of the NHL’s previous expansion franchise in Vegas. The Golden Knights had unprecedented success in their inaugural season (2017-18), winning a division title and reaching the Stanley Cup Final. They reached the playoffs again last year, losing a first round series to the San Jose Sharks (and the man who replaced him, Peter DeBoer) in seven games.

Gallant played with Red Wings’ general manager Steve Yzerman for a big chunk of his career. So that makes him an obvious candidate to be the next coach in Detroit, when Jeff Blashill is inevitably (and finally?) fired at the end of a historically bad season.

But Gallant’s instant success with the new franchise in Vegas should automatically have him on the radar in Seattle. The same expansion draft rules that allowed the Golden Knights to build an instant contender will remain for the Seattle NHL team, and Gallant knows how to get a collection of proverbial cast-offs on the same page.

There will be competition for Gallant, from Detroit, Minnesota, New Jersey, Calgary, etc., but Seattle might be an appealing spot for him.

Next. 5 candidates to replace Boudreau as Wild coach. dark

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