Rangers and Gerard Gallant Mutually Agree to Part Ways
Gerard Gallant is out as head coach of the New York Rangers, with the coach not officially fired but rather the two sides mutually agreeing to part ways.
OFFICIAL: #NYR and head coach Gerard Gallant have mutually agreed to part ways.
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) May 6, 2023
Both Chris Drury and Gallant released statements, and you can read them here.
"After my evaluation of the season and discussions with Gerard, we mutually came to the conclusion that a change would be beneficial for both parties. I wish he and his family all the best in the future. Our search for a new head coach will begin right away.”
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) May 6, 2023
And here's what Gallant had to say.
Gerard Gallant: “I would like to thank Mr. Dolan, Chris + the Rangers organization for giving me the opportunity to be their head coach these last two seasons. The experience of coaching an Original Six franchise with such rich history and an incredibly passionate fanbase is…
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) May 6, 2023
While the split is "mutual," according to Mollie Walker, feedback of players played a role in the decision.
Sounds like feedback from #NYR exit interviews with players played a role in the club’s decision to part ways with Gerard Gallant
— Mollie Walker (@MollieeWalkerr) May 6, 2023
In Year 1 of Gallant's tenure, the Rangers went 52-24-6 and finished with 110 points in the regular season before losing in the Eastern Conference Final against Tampa. This year, New York went 47-22-13 and finished with 107 points, but a los in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against New Jersey appears to have put an end to his time in the Big Apple.
Gallant's regular season success is not the type of results that sees a team and coach part ways. Mike Keenan, who won the franchise's only Stanley Cup since 1940, spent just one season behind the bench.And while Gallant is no Keenan... stuff like this can happen.
Being eliminated in back-to-back postseasons after jumping to a 2-0 series lead is brutal, and the lack of adjustments and the overall performance in Game 7 really put the nail in the coffin.
Now the Rangers begin their search for a new head coach. There's a lot of directions they can go in, directions they shouldn't go in, and we will have more on that in the coming days.
