Florida Panthers Relieve Head Coach Gerard Gallant of Head Coaching Duities

The Florida Panthers have parted ways with head coach Gerard Gallant following a 3-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday. 

The defending Atlantic Division regular season champions were one game over .500 after 22 games this season, with a 11-10-1 record. Last season the Panthers put up a franchise record setting record of 47-26-9 for 103 points. 

Gallant was in the third season of his contract with the Cats, he received a two-year extension in January. Originally hired in Sunrise on June 21, 2014, he has led the Panthers to a 96-65-25 record during his tenure behind the bench. 

This season despite dealing with injuries to key players, such as Jonathan Huberdeau, Nick Bjugstad and Alex Petrovic, the Panthers sit just two points out of the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. Florida has also been restructuring the front office of the organization since giving Gallant the extension. 

Team general manager, Tom Rowe, will take over the duties behind the bench on an interim basis. Last season Rowe was behind the bench for the team American Hockey League affiliate in Portland, before becoming the associate general manager for the Panthers in January. 

He was promoted to general manager, when the Panthers promoted Dale Tallon to President of Hockey Operations, in May. The team also parted ways with assistant coach, Mike Kelly as well. 

The news comes as a surprise, not just due to the fact it was made right after a team loss, but also because this past season, Gallant was a finalist for the Jack Adams Award, for Coach of the Year. They may have fallen to the New York Islanders in the opening round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs, but their franchise best season, helped to set higher expectations of the club moving forward.

Gallant and his staff may have had some philosophical differences with management and ownership though in the way they felt the team should be run. The Panthers have had a huge offseason with many changes both on the ice and off. 

Canada’s Sportsnet.ca was the first to report that the Panthers had indeed relieved Gallant of his duties behind the bench, which was then confirmed by The Miami Herald. 

Before leaving PNC Arena in a taxi cab, Gallant told The Miami Herald, “I was let go.”

One of the reporters, outside of the arena had mentioned to him that they thought he had done a good job with the Panthers, he responded by saying, “I thought so too.”

Gallant did partake in the postgame press conference following the loss to the Hurricanes on Sunday prior to being told by management of the decision to let him go. The Miami Herald did report that a source close to Gallant did say that he had felt his job was in jeopardy for some time.

Sunday night’s loss in Raleigh, began a six-game road trip for the Panthers. The Cats will travel to “the windy city” on Tuesday as they take on the Chicago Blackhawks, in Rowe’s first game behind the bench. 

Philadelphia Flyers Anthony Stolarz to Become First New Jersey Born Netminder to Play in NHL

Anthony Stolarz, of the Philadelphia Flyers, is set to make history on Sunday by becoming the first New Jersey born goaltender to start in the National Hockey League. 

While head coach, Dave Hakstol has not officially confirmed the decision on who he will have between the pipes for the Flyers, some of the other players have indirectly done it. Having recently been recalled from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League, for a seventh time, Stolarz may finally be able to show the Flyers what he can do between pipes on Sunday against the Calgary Flames. 

The Edison, New Jersey born and Jackson, New Jersey raised Stolarz said, “With New Jersey, not being such a hockey hotbed, it is nice to see the recognition now, there are 10 rinks within 40 minutes of my house. For me to be the first goalie, it is exciting.”

 

Flyers veteran netminder, Steve Mason told CSNPhilly.com, “Everybody is excited for him. He has been called up numerous times. Over a quarter of the year, he has been called up and is waiting for a shot. This year, especially, he looks like a different goaltender in net. He has put a lot of work in. He is ready for it.”

Mason continued, “I hope he does well, gets a win for the team. I told him just have fun. It is a big deal because you worked your entire life to get that first NHL start.”

While Hakstol has not told him that he will be between the pipes, Stolarz did say that he expects to have many friends and family in attendance at the Wells Fargo Center on Sunday night. 

He said, “It would be exciting in front of the home fans. Playing in front of the home crowd, I have been in several games where you get to see the atmosphere. Compared to other buildings, it is a tough place to play. If you are on the Flyers, it is exciting and gets you pumped up.”

His teammates showed their excitement for the netminder, but also know he is in tough spot with the Flyers having lost the last three out of four games. 

Wayne Simmonds said, “We have got to be sharp in front of him; I am real excited for him. Stolie has been real patient and done his work. When you are young, you must wait your turn and finally, it is his turn.”

In talking about the communication with between the defense and goaltenders, Radko Gudas said, “Communication should not change for us. Stolie has been around awhile. He knows what the calls are. He has been watching Neuvy [Michael Neuvirth] and Mase the last two years. We want to help him out.”

 

Jakub Voracek added, that up front the emphasis would be to avoid turning the puck over and buckle down defensively early on, so that Stolarz can get comfortable between the pipes. 

Being the largest goalie in the Flyers system, at six foot six, Mason noted the bigger goalies take time to figure out how to use their size to their advantage. Mason said, “Because he is such a big guy, it takes a while to move those moving parts and learn how to use them in a controlled manner. This year he is much more controlled. He is explosive.”

 

San Jose Sharks Sign Brent Burns to Eight Year Deal & Hockey Community Prays for Craig Cunningham

The San Jose Sharks announced on Tuesday that they have signed defenseman Brent Burns to an eight-year extension. 

The terms of the deal were not officially released by the organization, but it is believed to be worth about 64 million dollars over the eight seasons. The 31-year-old defenseman would have become an unrestricted free agent on July 1^st if the Sharks were unable to reach an agreement before then. 

Burns told the Sharks website, “This is a great group and we had a special year [in 2015-2016] and it is exciting to build on that. This is a great place to come and play, and when you are having fun it is easier to work.”  

He added, “I do not even think of it as coming to work; the people here are great and they love their Sharks. We a taste of last year [reaching the Stanley Cup Final] and now you just want to win, so it is exciting.” 

Last season Burns was one of the three finalists for the Norris Trophy as the top defenseman in the National Hockey League. His 27 goals and 48 assists for 75 points were career highs for him. 

Throughout the Stanley Cup run, he added 12 goals and 24 assists in 58 games. 

Sharks general manager, Doug Wilson said, “Brent is one of the most dynamic players in the National Hockey League and we are very excited to get this deal done. He has worked extremely hard to be an elite defenseman and at six foot five, 230 pounds his abilities on the ice are unique and rare.”  

He added, “I also want to thank Hasso Platner and our ownership group for their commitment to our franchise and the fans in San Jose by stepping forward and making this commitment to Brent.”

 

This season, Burns has put up seven goals and nine assists in 19 games. Throughout the course of his 12-year career, the rugged blue liner has scored 148 goals and 291 assists in 816 games between the Sharks and Minnesota Wild. 

Burns added, “This is a hard league, and every night it is tough and there are great teams. When you put yourself in the special group to fight for a chance, that is what it is about. We are trying to get back [to the Stanley Cup Final] and get over that next hurdle.”  

In Other News:

The hockey community continues to pray for Tucson Roadrunners captain, Craig Cunningham, who on Saturday night collapsed on the ice prior to their American Hockey League matchup with the Manitoba Moose. 

The game on Saturday night, plus the Roadrunners, the AHL affiliate of the Arizona Coyotes, next two games have been postponed. Shortly after the national anthems, Cunningham collapsed on the ice and trainers and medical staff immediately attended to him as they even performed chest compressions before taking him the ice on a stretcher to a waiting ambulance.

 On Monday, Coyotes coach, Dave Tippett announced that Cunningham was in critical but stable condition in an area hospital as he was surrounded by family getting the care that he needed.

Tippett said, “His family is with him and he is getting unbelievable care.”

 

Last season, Cunningham skated in 10 games with the big club. 

Coyotes general manager, John Chayka told ArizonaSprts.com, “Our staff did a phenomenal job in terms of their response. The care he is now receiving now is unbelievable.”

Cunningham, 26 was selected by the Boston Bruins in the fourth round, 97^th overall of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. In 63 games with the Bruins and Coyotes he has scored three goals and five assists. 

AHL President and Chief Executive Officer, Dave Andrews said, “Craig is a highly-respected player and team leader in our league. The thoughts and prayers of the entire AHL family remain with Craig, his family and his teammates.” 

As word spread on Saturday night and early Sunday morning of Cunningham’s situation, many players from around the hockey world expressed their concerns and well wishes for him and his family. 

Montreal Canadiens winger, Brendan Gallagher, who played in the Western Hockey League with Cunningham, through four seasons said, “If you were trying to find the one person who least deserves this to happen to them, it would be Craig. I heard about what happened [to Craig] after our game on Saturday night and I stayed up all night waiting for updates. He is a special guy. Every teammate he has had will tell you that.”

Other players from Milan Lucic, to Tyler Seguin, Tyler Johnson, Landon Ferraro, Michael Hutchinson and 2016 NHL All-Star Most Valuable Player, John Scott also Tweeted out well wishes.