The Florida Panthers fired head coach Gerard Gallant and assistant coach Mike Kelly.
GM Tom Rowe will step behind the bench as their interim head coach.
Thoughts from the media on Gallant’s firing …
George Richards: “He didn’t seem to be getting along with the new management. He couldn’t hide his disagreements with them.”
Harvey Fialkov: “I’ll probably get in trouble for this but too many changes on the blue line after a top 10 finish in D last season.”
Mike Kelly: “Panthers got worse on the backend, injuries to multiple key players to start the season and they’re still .500 after 22 games. Not good…”
Pierre LeBrun: “Re: Gallant fired. Always felt like the fix was in even before the season started. Unfair in my books.”
Pat Hickey: “Panthers turnaround due to Tallon and Gallant. One pushed aside, one fired. Franchise has become more of joke than ever before.”
Dan Murphy: “Good coaches get fired all the time. Gallant obviously didn’t jive with direction #panthers want to go. Smart? Time will tell.”
Ray Ferraro: “Gotta say I cannot fathom what is going on in Florida …”
Bob McKenzie: “Not that it ultimately matters in terms of decision, but safe to say FLA players largely disappointed/unhappy at Gallant being fired. In the eyes of many of his players, Gallant was viewed as a players’ coach, one who cared for and looked out for his players. That said, everyone, incl players, knew there was likely wide philosophical divide between the bench staff and management/ownership.”
Darren Dreger: “Florida ownership taking a beating privately around the hockey community. Gallant is a highly respected and well liked hockey man.”
Jim Matheson: “Panthers ownership looks like a joke right now. Pushed aside excellent GM Tallon and now fire terrific coach Gallant”
Dan Rosen: “Florida in mix, generally playing OK despite significant injuries & offseason turnover. That’s what makes decision to ax Gallant so curious.”
Patrick O’Sullivan: “Florida’s next move will be having a life size calculator and spread sheet on the bench to open the gates on player changes.”
Mike Harrington: “The #FlaPanthers are a mess. Owners letting analytics hounds take over and run the show. Panic move firing the coach. Laughable. The GM is going behind the bench. What a joke. What is it about GMs wanting to coach/manage in S.Fla. Remember the #Marlins?”
Erik Erlendsson: “C’mon, this is wrong, 20 games in to season after winning a division title. They changed around roster, had injury issues. Bad move, IMO”
Brian Wilde: “What an absolute shocker in Florida. Gallant fired. Wow. He had an overachieving year last year. Injuries on this squad. Unfair.”
Tom Gulitti: “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised considering Panthers pushed their GM out of his job months after one of best seasons in team history.”
Brian Lawton: “There were rumors this summer that Gerard Gallant of @FlaPanthers would be fired this year by December. Mark that one down as true.”
Damien Cox: “Once Dale Tallon no longer in charge in FLA, had to believe Gerard Gallant on the firing line if things didn’t go well. Somebody got the ear of the owner in FLA. There’s was no reason for extensive management change after last years 103-point season.”
Martin Biron: “I’ve said it before and I’m saying it again, FLA are going in the wrong direction.”
Adrian Dater: “Ridiculous firing of Gerard Gallant in Florida. Quality coach; new management destroying franchise again”
Elliotte Friedman: “Gallant was given extension last season, but this year he and front office disagreed on direction of the team. Things brewing behind scenes.”
Nicholas Goss: “Horrendous decision. Gallant is a good coach. Can’t imagine he’ll be unemployed for long.”
Wayne Scanlan: “Panthers are a mess.”
Michael Russo: “Just when things take a turn last season, #flapanthers replace GM, scouting staff and finally their coach. Spinning wheels since 2000″
Doug Maclean: “You know I have loved the @FlaPanthers deep down for 20 years ! A lifetime ! But this killed it ! This is a complete joke. Wow.”
Daren Millard: “this is a very another very strange decision after the need to replace the gm. I would be lying if this was unexpected. we saw it coming.”
At least a Hurricanes employee was nice enough to help Gerard Gallant with his bags as he got into a taxi after being fired. (AP Photo) pic.twitter.com/04SVf0PiIb
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) November 28, 2016