It was the quarter pole of the National Hockey League season and the Florida Panthers had seen enough.
On Monday, Florida fired Gerard Gallant after an 11-10-1 start to the season.
More had been expected of the Panthers with the moves made in the off season.
General manager Tom Rowe has assumed the role of interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
“My focus is solely on turning our season around, fixing our special teams and securing a playoff berth,” Rowe said in a statement released by the team.
The Panthers changed up in the off season but since the start of the new campaign, Jonathan Huberdeau has not played a game and Nick Bjugstad has iced in only two matches thus far.
Florida could arguably be called soft with the departure of defenders Willie Mitchell and Erik Gudbranson who were replaced on the roster with more skilled skaters but less gritty ones.
In goal, neither Roberto Luongo and James Reimer have been lighting up the night either and the lack of a steady goaltending tandem doomed Gallant.
The less gritty defense was led by Keith Yandle, Jason Demers, Michael Matheson, and Mark Pysyk all of whom Gallant reportedly held in disfavor for their lack of aggression in the paint and low slot.
Florida traded for the New York Rangers’ Dylan McIlrath earlier in the season but that did nothing to ramp up the toughness Gallant wanted.
Tack on that offense has been slow to gear up this season with Jaromir Jagr and Aleksander Barkov having a combined five goals and the cake was baked for Gallant.
Speculation now begins on Gallant’s future and possible interest from the Vegas Golden Knights.
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