Report: Gerard Gallant will be first coach of NHL expansion Las Vegas Golden Knights

Gerard Gallant is expected to be announced as the first coach of the expansion Vegas Golden Knights, multiple outlets reported.

A press conference is scheduled at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas for Thursday afternoon.

Owner Bill Foley didn't tip his hand when asked if the 53-year-old Gallant would be named as the franchise's first coach.

"I can't comment on that," Foley told the Las Vegas Review Journal.

Gallant guided the Florida Panthers to a division title and the best regular season in franchise history in 2015-16 before being fired by the club on Nov. 27 after an 11-9-1 start.

Gallant owns a 152-140-31 mark with four ties as a head coach with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Panthers. He is a contemporary of both general manager George McPhee and Murray Craven, the Golden Knights' vice president.

"We're looking for that progressive guy that can really help us through the early years and help develop our team and our players," McPhee said last month. "And be the same guy that's there with us when we're competing for a championship.

"We decided way back in August that we're going to take our time, interview people along the way and then pick the guy sometime in the spring that we feel is right for this hockey club."

Vegas, which begins play next season, will participate in the NHL expansion draft from June 18-20. It must select one player from each team to fill a roster of at least 14 forwards, nine defensemen and three goalies, with a minimum of 20 players under contract for the 2017-18 season.