No Sunshine State

The Florida Panthers weren't supposed to be just 11-10-1 as the calendar turned to December, yet that is where they stand. While that isn't normally grounds to fire your head coach, the Panthers upper brass evidently thought so, and and after losing to Carolina on Sunday, relieved Gerard Gallant of the head coaching duties. General Manager Tom Rowe will be the interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

The firing comes in the midst of the Panthers falling a little short of expectations, as they were supposed to be near the top of the Atlantic Division after making firewagon changes to the roster, adding Keith Yandle, Jason Demers, and James Reimer in the off-season. As to why Gallant would possibly be fired this soon, the special teams would be a culprit, as they were the team's downfall last season in their first round exit against the Islanders, and continued to be a problem area for the Panthers. Rowe, who previously coached in the AHL and KHL prior to becoming the General Manager for the Panthers, will get the chance to help turn around the team's problems on special teams.