The 2019-20 season will be remembered for coaching changes, and the latest one might be the most shocking of all.
On Wednesday the Vegas Golden Knights made their first-ever coaching change, firing Gerard Gallant and assistant Mike Kelly and hiring former San Jose Sharks bench boss Peter DeBoer as the replacement.
Hockey Twitter had lots to say about the move, what it means for the Golden Knights-Sharks rivalry and where Gallant will coach next.
Here are some of the best reactions.
— Evander Kane (@evanderkane_9) January 15, 2020
Gallant is coach of the Pacific Division All-Star Team
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) January 15, 2020
Earlier this season, Gallant and Vegas were talking about an extension. Just a crazy year
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) January 15, 2020
Miller on Gallant: "That happened? I didn't know if the guys were kidding or not. I'm completely shocked. When I was there, he was a fantastic coach, a players' coach. Everybody loved him. .. I'm sure he'll have another job soon. Tough to see that piece of their puzzle go." #VGK
— Mike Harrington (@ByMHarrington) January 15, 2020
Was just reminded that last year Gerard Gallant called Pete DeBoer a clown like, 9 months ago: https://t.co/OMpIJEthrz
— Justin Bourne (@jtbourne) January 15, 2020
Gallant's final playoff series as coach of #vegasborn: Lost to #sjsharks in 1st rd last spring when DeBoer's Sharks rallied from down 3-0 in Gm 7 with 4 goals in 4:01 of 3rd period en route to a 5-4 win April 23. SJ had trailed 3-1 in series.
Now DeBoer becomes VGK coach.
— Mike Zeisberger (@Zeisberger) January 15, 2020
The #VegasBorn #SJSharks rivalry just escalated even further!
— W.G. Ramirez (@WillieGRamirez) January 15, 2020
Wonder if Gallant’s availability spearheads something in Montreal?
— Nick Alberga (@thegoldenmuzzy) January 15, 2020
What the hell is going on? This NHL season is bananalands. https://t.co/IFXTJW2hEf
— Paul Bissonnette (@BizNasty2point0) January 15, 2020
Gallant being fired is beyond ridiculous
— Matthew Barnaby (@MattBarnaby3636) January 15, 2020
Will establishment hockey figures rush to defend Gallant since he very much didn’t deserve to be fired? Or was that just a gate keeping issue last time? I’ll hang up and listen because I know the answer.
— Andrew Berkshire (@AndrewBerkshire) January 15, 2020
Bet on it: Gallant will announced as the new coach of the @DetroitRedWings soon. Captain has just been waiting for one of his guys to become available.#RedWings #NHL
— Chris Marchione (@c_marchione) January 15, 2020
Since entering the NHL, the Golden Knights are 118-75-20 under Gerard Gallant.
The 9th best record in the NHL.
— Tyler Bischoff (@Bischoff_Tyler) January 15, 2020
The Golden Knights have the highest rate of xGF and second highest xGF% (5v5)
They’re brought down by ranking 7th worst in sv% and sh% at 5v5, resulting in the 4th worst PDO (sv% + sh%) in the league
The results may change, but they aren’t going to play better
— Aaron Schuster (@retsuhcSnoraA) January 15, 2020
.@GoldenKnights fired Gallant… to hire DeBoer?
I mean, Gallant is basically getting fired because the netminders have been very poor
The team in-front of them have played well…. consistently well over years too… under Gallant.#NHL #VegasBorn
— Alexander Appleyard (@avappleyard) January 15, 2020
There's going to be a lot of nervous NHL coaches out there right now with Gallant on the market.
— Sean Reynolds (@snseanreynolds) January 15, 2020
Wow talk about tough. Sharks fired Pete Deboer as head coach in December. Now the Knights fired Gerard Gallant and then hire the Sharks ex coach Pete Deboer. Ouch.. that hurts right in the feels. Goes to our biggest rival. But hey it’s business! pic.twitter.com/2YoqHVLni0
— Mayhem (@MayhemMero) January 15, 2020
The next move in this 3D chess game of former #FlaPanthers coaches is for former Cats interim coach Peter Horachek to be promoted to bench boss in New Jersey and Gallant taking over for Boogs in San Jose. "Former Florida Coaches" is a complex game to play — like how Myst was.
— Bill Whitehead (@BillWhiteheadFL) January 15, 2020
Gallant is the Rodney Dangerfield of the NHL. He gets no respect for winning.
— Tim Bowers (@TimBowers62) January 15, 2020
Vegas: Fire Gallant and hire DeBoer
Everyone: pic.twitter.com/4f0CZbd0kT
— Stephen Tanquary (@SteveTheTank20) January 15, 2020
Wow. Three of the last four coaches who lost in the Stanley Cup Final have been canned this season.
2016: DeBoer (SJ)
2017: Laviolette (NSH)
2018: Gallant (LVG)Who's next Bruce Cassidy since the Bruins didn't win last season? Crazy stuff. Tough league.
— Alex Mahar (@AlexMahar1) January 15, 2020
I don’t know, maybe he’s not the guy, but I’d take Gerard Gallant over anybody on the Blackhawks bench right now.
— Patrick Norton (@pdnorton3) January 15, 2020
The knights are tied on points for a WC spot and three points out of first place in a tight pacific. It’s be like if the Rams fired Sean McVay
— The Brad You’ve Been Looking For (@Radwithab) January 15, 2020
I’m shocked at the number of people that are shocked at the Gallant firing. It’s hockey, when the players stop listening to the coach and aren’t motivated, the coach goes. If you’ve watched this losing streak, you can just see it.
— Alan H. Doc's Sports (@BigKatSports) January 15, 2020
Tired: keeping Babcock to start the season
Wired: replacing Babcock with Keefe
Inspired: replacing Keefe with Gallant— Tom Hunter (@PuckDontLie) January 15, 2020
Coach Gallant will always be @GoldenKnights inaugural coach. He brought us on an unforgettable run and we wish him the best! #coachgallant #goknightsgo pic.twitter.com/0xgQaYQZPo
— Sir Winston da Doodle VGK Dog (@WinstonDaDoodle) January 15, 2020
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