Gerard Gallant, Panthers Agree to New Contract: Latest Details and Reaction

The Florida Panthers are giving head coach Gerard Gallant a two-year contract extension, according to George Richards of the Miami Herald. The deal will run through 2019. The team announced the deal on Saturday:

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“We are pleased to agree with Gerard on a multi-year extension,” general manager Dale Tallon said. “He has done an excellent job of creating a winning culture and developing our young players in his time with the Panthers. He is an ideal fit for our group and we look forward to having him lead our team as we work towards our goal of winning the Stanley Cup.”

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Earlier on Friday, the team formally extended Tallon and made Tom Rowe, the team’s AHL head coach, its associate GM.

The team hired Gallant prior to last season, and he led the Panthers to a 38-29-15 record, their first winning season in three years, though they missed the playoffs.

The Panthers are off to an even stronger start this season, currently in second place in the Atlantic division at 37-21-12, and riding a seven-game win streak—a fitting time for Friday’s extension.

"It's good, things are positive, and in the past month, a lot of good things have happened for our team,'' Gallant said Friday before the news of his extension surfaced, courtesy Richards. "We're winning a lot of games and made the deal with Broward County. Things are moving forward.”

MSG commentator and hockey expert Stan Fischler believes the contract extensions were well-deserved—particularly with both Tallon and Gallant playing major roles in the team’s resurgence:

The Panthers will try to extend their current winning streak to eight games Saturday against the New York Rangers.

Locking down the leader who has them on the right path is another step in the right direction.