Gerard Gallant has decided to step down until the end of the season as head coach of the Shanghai Dragons of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) due to a heart condition.
According to the website RG.org, the 62-year-old would not be able to “withstand the physical and logistical demands of the coaching profession, in particular long travel and match management”.
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The more uncomfortable travel conditions in the KHL and the long trips would have harmed his condition, reports the media. Gallant was named driver of the Shanghai club, the circuit’s easternmost outfit, in August.
TSN informant Pierre LeBrun confirmed Monday morning that Gallant was going to take a break until the end of the campaign. He will return home to Prince Edward Island to get back to 100%.
Gallant has been out since December 30 and has missed the Dragons’ last five games. It was his assistant Mike Kelly who took the reins of the team on an interim basis.
The Chinese team has maintained a record of 17-17-9 since the start of the season, having amassed 43 points in as many games.
Gallant, a former assistant coach with the Montreal Canadiens, managed the Columbus Blue Jackets, Florida Panthers, Vegas Golden Knights and New York Rangers in the National League.
