While it is being reported that Dan Bylsma is still very much on the Panthers' radar to take over as the new head coach, all indications are that Gerard Gallant will be the man officially hired Monday.
If this ends up being true, I am not as excited about this as others. Yes I believe he is a good coach, and could be great for a young team like the Panthers. But GM Dale Tallon said one of the criteria for the new hire would be vast NHL coaching experience.
Looking at Gallant's resume', he looks more like a slightly more experienced Kevin Dineen. But unlike when Dineen was hired, he does have NHL experience as a head coach of the Blue Jackets and a current assistant with Montreal.
Bylsma's name is on the Cup, and he sure has some star power in terms of popularity in the league. But apparently his asking price was in the stratosphere. Even for a team like Florida who has openly proclaimed they will be big spenders moving forward, practicality has to win out sometimes. This looks to be the case.
If Bylsma were truly interested in the Florida job and were to come down on his price could something change overnight? It's possible. But from what I'm hearing it's close to a done deal with Gallant.
What do you think? Is Tallon making a mistake by letting Bylsma walk? Do you think Gallant is the right man for the job on a very young yet talented team like Florida?
As always, I look forward to your spirited input. Thanks for reading.
Dan Spiegel... Florida Panthers Media Follow me on Twitter Join the Florida Panthers Insiders FB Page Connect with me on Google Plus