Mitch Love was once one of the NHL’s hottest head coaching candidates.
Well, he’s found a new head coaching gig, just not in the NHL.
RG Media reported on Saturday that the former Calgary Wranglers head coach had been named head coach of the KHL’s Shanghai Dragons.
Love replaces longtime NHL head coach Gerard Gallant, who was coaching the Dragons until he announced his leave due to health issues.
The Flames’ former organizational coach had worked his way up the ranks, and his name was being bandied about as a head coaching candidate for multiple NHL teams. Love reportedly interviewed for jobs with the Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Seattle Kraken.
However, while Love was still an assistant coach with the Washington Capitals, their organization placed him on leave following an NHL investigation.
It was alleged that Love was involved in domestic abuse after a victim sent letters to the NHL directly.
Just over a month following the investigation, the NHL announced that Love would be suspended for the remainder of the 2025-26 season. No details of the alleged domestic abuse were ever revealed, and Love denied those allegations.
After his suspension, the Capitals subsequently fired Love.
With the Quesnel, B.C. native still suspended by the league, he’s now taken on a head coaching role on the other side of the globe. RG Media reported that his contract runs through the 2026-27 season.
Love made a name for himself in the Flames organization by being named AHL head coach of the year in consecutive seasons (2022 and 2023). He became just the third coach in league history to win the award in back-to-back campaigns.
He joins a Dragons team in the KHL full of ex-NHLers, including former Flames prospect Spencer Foo.