Gerard Gallant has been out of a job less than a week and is already looking to get back behind a bench.
“I think Gerard Gallant has let it be known that’s he’s interested in getting right back in as quick as he can, provided it’s the right situation,” Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported during Saturday’s Headlines segment on Hockey Night in Canada.
Gallant was surprisingly fired — along with assistant Mike Kelly — by the Vegas Golden Knights on Jan. 15 and replaced by Peter DeBoer. DeBoer had been fired by the Golden Knights’ biggest rival, the San Jose Sharks, in December.
The Golden Knights were in the midst of a four-game losing streak when Gallant was fired but are one of five teams competing for playoff position in the Pacific Division. The Golden Knights had a 24-19-6 record at the time of the coaching change and were one spot outside of the playoffs in the Western Conference.
“I think our team has more to give, and that was what into the decision,” general manager Kelly McCrimmon told reporters after Gallant was fired.
Friedman reported on the day Gallant was fired that the Golden Knights had been discussing a contract extension with the coach before he was dismissed. On Headlines, Friedman said that while some other coaches were upset to hear that, he doesn’t expect Gallant to file any grievances over it.
“I think he prefers to coach,” Friedman said.
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