Panthers fire Gerard Gallant, name general manager Tom Rowe interim head coach

Stanley Cup winner tasked with 'turning our season around'

Gerard Gallant coached his final game with the Panthers in a 3-2 loss to Carolina.

SUNRISE, Fla. – Gerard Gallant's firing has been announced by the Florida Panthers, one day after the 2015-16 coach of the year finalist was dismissed in a somewhat surprising move.

The Panthers announced the firings of Gallant and assistant coach Mike Kelly on Monday and confirmed that general manager Tom Rowe will take Gallant's place behind the bench.

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"In seeking to earn a second consecutive playoff berth and bring a Stanley Cup to South Florida, we believe that new leadership is required immediately," Panthers owner Vincent J. Viola said in a statement.

The moves were all made Sunday night after Florida's 3-2 loss in Carolina.

Rowe previously served as the head coach of Florida's American Hockey League affiliates in Portland (2015-16) and San Antonio (2013-15) before joining the Panthers. He was an assistant coach with the Carolina Hurricanes from 2008 to 2011 and won the Stanley Cup with the team as a player in 2006.

"My focus is solely on turning our season around, fixing our special teams and securing a playoff berth," Rowe said.

Rowe will coach his first game Tuesday night at Chicago.


About the Authors:

Peter Burke returned for a second stint of duty at Local 10 News in February 2014.