The Vegas Golden Knights have chosen their new coach already

John Tortorella's whirlwind tenure behind the Vegas Golden Knights bench is officially over. The team announced on Tuesday that the veteran head coach will not be back for the 2026-27 season, bringing an end to one of the most unusual and compelling coaching stints in recent NHL memory. Tortorella spent just 79 days with the organization, but in that brief window, he managed to guide a struggling roster all the way to the Stanley Cup Final.

General manager Kelly McCrimmon expressed gratitude toward Tortorella in a statement, praising the impact he had on the team during a critical stretch of the season. "When the decision was made to bring Torts to Vegas, we needed an immediate impact to help us at a pivotal point in the season," McCrimmon said. "Torts' experience and leadership proved to be the boost that we were looking for, helping guide us to the Stanley Cup Final."

A remarkable turnaround in record time

Tortorella was brought in on March 29 following the surprising firing of Bruce Cassidy, who had been let go as the Golden Knights stumbled badly down the stretch, dropping six of their final seven games before the coaching change. It was an unorthodox move to swap coaches with just eight games left on the regular-season schedule, and many around the league viewed it as a desperate roll of the dice by Vegas management.

The gamble paid off in spectacular fashion, at least initially. Tortorella brought his well-known intensity and no-nonsense approach to the locker room, and the Golden Knights responded immediately. The team rattled off a 7-0-1 record to close out the regular season, clinching the Pacific Division title and heading into the postseason with a wave of momentum.

The playoff run was even more impressive. Vegas knocked off the Utah Mammoth and Edmonton Oilers before pulling off a stunning sweep of the Presidents' Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Final. It was Tortorella's first appearance in the Stanley Cup Final since he led the Tampa Bay Lightning to the championship back in 2004. The ride ultimately ended against the Carolina Hurricanes, who took the series in six games, but the accomplishment was no less remarkable given the circumstances.

After the Game 6 loss on Sunday night, Tortorella reflected on the experience with a tone that suggested he knew his time in Vegas might be coming to a close. "I feel very fortunate how this all came about, and just kind of in a weird way at the end of the year," he said. "To jump into this with this gang, I feel so fortunate."

The 67-year-old Boston native has now coached six different NHL franchises over a career spanning more than two decades, including stints with the New York Rangers, Vancouver Canucks, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Philadelphia Flyers. His 777 regular-season victories place him ninth on the all-time list among NHL head coaches. His time in Vancouver in 2013-14 lasted just one season, and he also took over the Rangers with only four games remaining in the 1999-2000 campaign, making short tenures something of a recurring theme in his career.

Vegas already eyeing its next coach

With Tortorella's departure confirmed, the Golden Knights are now searching for the fifth head coach in franchise history as they prepare for their milestone 10th NHL season. And based on early reports, that search may already be close to a resolution.

According to prominent NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the expectation is that Ryan Craig will be the one stepping behind the bench. Friedman noted on NHL Network that while nothing is official yet, Craig has a long history with McCrimmon, which could make the transition smooth. Journalist David Pagnotta echoed that sentiment, suggesting there is already an understanding in place that Craig will take over for next season.

While the Golden Knights fell short of their ultimate goal this spring, the Tortorella era, brief as it was, will be remembered fondly in Las Vegas. He took a team that looked destined for an early playoff exit and pushed it within two wins of hoisting the Stanley Cup. Now, as Vegas turns the page, all eyes will be on whether Craig can build on that foundation and bring the franchise its second championship.