New York Rangers Daily: Gerard Gallant heading to Russia to coach in KHL; viral trade request
Gerard Gallant has been unable to land another head coaching job in the NHL after the New York Rangers fired him following the 2022-23 season, so he’s reportedly headed to Russia to coach in the KHL.
Pierre LeBrun posted the news, though didn’t have details on which team Gallant will coach — although said an announcement is coming soon. Daria Tuboltseva of RG reported that Gallant is joining Kunlun Red Star, a team based in Beijing, China, that’s played in the KHL since 2016-17.
Kunlun (28-34-5-1) missed the Gagarin Cup Playoffs last season, finishing last in the Tarasov Division. Former Rangers defenseman Adam Clendening played for them in 2024-25.
Gallant was Chris Drury’ s first coaching hire after he became Rangers general manager in the spring of 2021. Gallant wasn’t exactly Drury’s first choice — the GM first tried to lure Mike Sullivan to Broadway.
Four years later, Sullivan is set for his first season behind the Rangers’ bench after he was hired in May. Gallant is headed halfway around the world to kickstart his flailing coaching career.
Gallant’s .662 points percentage is second-best in Rangers history, behind only Mike Keenan (.667), who coached them to the Stanley Cup championship in 1993-94, his only season in New York.
The Rangers were 52-24-6 (110 points) in Gallant’s first season behind the bench in 2021-22. He then coached them to the Eastern Conference Final, where the Rangers faltered after a strong start and lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games. Along the way, Gallant and the Rangers outlasted Sullivan’s Penguins, winning Game 7 of their first-round series in overtime.
Gallant guided the Rangers to a 47-22-13 record (107 points) in 2022-23, but was fired after the Rangers blew a 2-0 series lead and lost to the New Jersey Devils in seven games in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Despite much success — including winning the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s top coach in 2017-18 — the 61-year-old hasn’t landed another NHL coaching gig since leaving New York. In 705 games coached with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights and Rangers, Gallant is 369-262-70 with four ties.
Does the path back to the NHL go through Beijing for Gallant? Time will tell. But it feels unlikely.
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