As far as expansion NHL teams go, the Vegas Golden Knights sure are knocking things off their checklist at a quick pace.
Any expansion team needs a few important building blocks. Vegas already has an arena, a general manager, a logo, and a name. Now, reports seem to indicate they’re closer than one would expect to naming a head coach.
On Tuesday, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that Vegas owner Bill Foley has “accelerated” the timeline for hiring the franchise’s first head coach. Months ago, Foley told the Review-Journal that Vegas wouldn't fill that position until after the 2016-17 NHL season.
But Foley told the paper on Tuesday that the idea of hiring a coach soon is about “50-50.”
The Review-Journal speculates that former Florida Panthers coach Gerard Gallant is the guy they’re after.
It’s an indication the Knights may have identified their man: former Florida Panthers coach Gerard Gallant, who was let go Nov. 25. While the team would not not say if the Panthers gave it permission to talk to Gallant, TSN hockey insider Bob McKenzie said the two sides have talked.
When asked if the team has talked to Gallant and whether he is their No. 1 target, Foley said, “No comment. But I believe we’re going to get a very good coach.”
Gallant did not return phone calls from the Review-Journal.
If Vegas did move to find a bench boss soon, it would be the earliest expansion team coach hiring in awhile. The Minnesota Wild didn’t hire Jacques Lemaire until June of 2000, and the Columbus Blue Jackets didn’t hire Dave King until July of 2000.
But recent firings of New York Islanders coach Jack Capuano and Gallant and further rumors about Claude Julien’s job security in Boston are probably making the Golden Knights a little jumpy. One would assume that 50-50 idea Foley spoke of would tilt towards 80-20 if someone of Julien’s caliber became available before the season ended.
It also makes sense from a strategy standpoint: it would be in Vegas’ best interests to have a coach in place to confer with him before the expansion draft deadlines come up. All 30 NHL teams need to submit their available players by June 17, and Vegas must decide on players to draft by June 20.