The KHL's Shanghai Dragons Have Set The Standard For The Most Electric Edit To Announce Gerard Gallant As Their New Head Coach
Joe Sargent. Getty Images.Gerard Gallant has recently been named the new head coach of the Shanghai Dragons (formerly known as Kunlun Red Star) in the KHL. It's hard to imagine that just a few years ago he was coaching in a Stanley Cup Final, and now he's on a plane to China. But the game moves quick, and come to think of it, so does Gallant. He was never able to find a way to really stick around with any teams in the NHL. He was fired in his 3rd season with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He was fired in his 3rd season with the Florida Panthers. He was the first coach in Vegas Golden Knights history. He immediately took them to the Cup Final in 2018 while winning the Jack Adams Award. However, he was fired in his 3rd season with Vegas. And he "mutually agreed to part ways" with the Rangers after 2 seasons from 2021-23.
So aside from a magical run in 2018, it's been a pretty bumpy road for Gerard Gallant. He's one of those coaches whose name carries a little more prestige than their actual resume.
But whatever you do, do not tell that to the Shanghai Dragons. Because if this video introduction to their new head coach is any indication, they think they just landed prime Scotty Bowman.
Holy shit that ruled so hard. I just hope whoever edited that video is still with Shanghai when they'll need to make a new introductory video in a couple seasons, because every "master" deserves that amount of hype.
Obviously the best cameo in this short film is AI Jaromir Jagr.
What an incredible claim from the Shanghai Dragons. "One who has shaped the greatest heroes", and it's Jaromir Jagr from ages 42-44 playing for Gerard Gallant with the Florida Panthers. To be fair, Jagr was 43-years-old and almost put up a point-per-game in 2016. 66 points in 79 games. That's arguably more impressive than 127 points when he was 29, so we can give a little credit to Gallant there. And AI Artemi Panarin was a nice touch as well.
You also have to give credit to this team for relocating and changing up the name once they hired Gallant. They witnessed the success he had with coaching a team in its first year of existence. The best coaching year in Gerard Gallant's career was the 1st year of the Vegas Golden Knights. The Shanghai Dragons hope they can tap into that and make a magical run to the Gagarin Cup this season. It's so crazy that it might just work.