Gerard Gallant is prioritizing his health.
Upon consulting with team doctors and management, the 62-year-old Jack Adams Award winner is stepping back from his duties as head coach of the Kontinental Hockey League’s Shanghai Dragons and returning home to Prince Edward Island.
After battling an illness, Gerard Gallant in consultation with his KHL team doctors and management, has decided to step away from coaching the rest of the season. He’s doing better. Wants to focus on getting back to 100 percent health. He’s headed back home to PEI.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) January 12, 2026
TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun notes Gallant’s focus is getting back to full health from the illness he’s been battling.
Gallant was named Dragons head coach in August. The team currently sits ninth in the East on 43 points, six behind Spartak for the final playoff spot.
Gallant last coached in the NHL in 2022-2023, behind the bench of the New York Rangers. He’s coached 705 career games over 11 seasons with the Rangers, Vegas Golden Knights, Florida Panthers and Columbus Blue Jackets. For his career, Gallant has a record of 369-262-4-70. He was named the NHL’s coach of the year in 2018 after leading the expansion Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Final.
As a player, Gallant appeared in 615 games over 10 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings and Tampa Bay Lightning.
