Report: Gerard Gallant enters COVID protocol; Kris Knoblauch promoted to coach

Originally posted on Forever Blueshirts | Last updated 1/9/22

The Rangers have won four of their past five heading into Monday’s road game against the Los Angeles Kings. New York will have Artemi Panarin in the lineup after missing the past four games due to the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol. He was cleared earlier today.

Unfortunately, COVID has struck the team again.

UPDATE: Gerard Gallant has entered Covid protocol. Kris Knoblauch will assume temporary head coaching duties in his absence.
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) January 9, 2022

Gerard Gallant on COVID protocol

The New York Rangers have announced that Head Coach Gerard Gallant has entered COVID protocol. In his absence, Wolf Pack bench boss Kris Knoblauch will take over behind the bench.

Igor Shesterkin, Ryan Reaves, and Julien Gauthier are also in COVID-19 protocol, and Dryden Hunt sustained an upper-body injury in the opener of the five-game road trip on Thursday against the Vegas Golden Knights and was placed on injured reserve.

Assistant coach Mike Kelly is also on protocol. He was placed on the list on January 2 and should be eligible to return soon.

Gallant, 58, is 23-9-4 this season in his first year with the Rangers.

Kris Knoblauch was named the Head Coach of Wolf Pack in 2019. This season, the 42 year-old is 15-9-2-2 and has the Rangers AHL affiliate in a prime position to make the playoffs.

This is nothing new for Knoblauch as he spelled David Quinn last season for six games. The team went 4-2 during that span, all wins and losses were credited to Quinn.

This article first appeared on Forever Blueshirts and was syndicated with permission.

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