Gerard Gallant (pictured) and Mike Kelly were fired by the Vegas Golden Knights on Jan. 15, 2020. (Photo: NHL.com)
Gerard Gallant has been axed as coach of the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights.
He has been replaced by Peter DeBoer, who was let go by San Jose in December.
Assistant coach Mike Kelly has also been fired as part of the changes, announced Wednesday.
“In order for our team to reach its full potential, we determined a coaching change was necessary. Our team is capable of more than we have demonstrated this season,” said Kelly McCrimmon, general manager of the Golden Knights, in a statement.
“In Peter DeBoer, we have a proven, experienced head coach who we believe can help us achieve our ultimate goal. We look forward to a strong finish to the 2019-20 season with Peter at the helm and a successful tenure in the seasons to come.”
NEWS
The Golden Knights have made the following coaching changes:
Gerard Gallant & Mike Kelly have been relieved of their coaching duties
Peter DeBoer has been named head coachhttps://t.co/rQsULKgYzR
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) January 15, 2020
Gallant and Kelly joined the Golden Knights during the team’s inaugural season in 2017.
The team set the NHL record for the most wins by an expansion team in its debut season.
Gallant also won the Jack Adams Award in 2018 as the league’s top coach of the year.
Both Gallant and Kelly have connections to the hockey world in Saint John.
Gallant served as head coach of the Saint John Sea Dogs from 2009 to 2012. Kelly was director of hockey operations and associate coach from 2010 to 2012 before taking on head coach and general manager duties for the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons.
DeBoer has a career NHL coaching record of 415-329-111 as well as 46 playoff victories following stints with San Jose, New Jersey and Florida.
Before coaching in the NHL, DeBoer spent 13 seasons coaching in the Ontario Hockey League.
A center in his playing career, DeBoer was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft and played professionally for two seasons with the International Hockey League’s Milwaukee Admirals.
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