Former New York Rangers coach Gerard Gallant made some waves earlier this season by agreeing to take another coaching gig overseas. In particular, the veteran NHL coach took over the Shanghai Dragons of the KHL, hoping to bring the club to the Russian league playoffs.
However, Gallant suffered a major health scare earlier this month, forcing him to return to North America. The 62-year-old is back in his home province of Prince Edward Island, Canada, getting treatment from his main doctor.
Gallant coached two seasons for the Rangers, racking up a record of 99-46-19 in 164 games. He was a finalist for the Jack Adams Award in 2021-22. However, a disappointing playoff exit in 2023 led to his dismissal.
But as The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported, Gallant is doing just fine now. The veteran coach stated:
“Since I’ve been home the last 48 hours here, I feel great — like, I feel real good.”
Gallant reportedly spent about a week in a Russian hospital. He was discharged and managed to fly back to North America.
Gallant stated that his KHL club did a great job of taking care of him. Given his health situation, the Shanghai Dragons were understanding of his decision to leave his current coaching position.
The ex-Rangers bench boss added this insight into his condition:
“I’m taking the medication I was prescribed in Russia. My blood pressure got a little high, and I’d never got that before… I’ve never been sick before. But since I’ve been home, I feel great. My appetite is back, and I feel really good.”
There’s no telling if Gallant will return to coaching at this point. Evidently, his main focus is on recuperating and getting back to full health. Nevertheless, the stress of dealing with a challenging environment in the KHL could have contributed to Gallant’s health issues, as LeBrun noted.
Still, it’s worth speculating that Gallant’s phone may ring sooner rather than later. There could be several coaching vacancies looming around the league next summer. So, Gallant, if doctors permit, could be a viable alternative some NHL teams out there.