What really happened before Vegas shockingly hired John Tortorella!

The Vegas Golden Knights sent shockwaves across the NHL this weekend when they abruptly fired head coach Bruce Cassidy and replaced him with veteran bench boss John Tortorella, all with just nine games left before the playoffs.

The timing raised eyebrows immediately. Vegas is still on track to make the postseason, making such a drastic move this late in the year almost unheard of. But according to insights shared on Daily Faceoff LIVE, the decision may have been brewing for a while.

Former NHL video coach Steve Peters, speaking alongside Tyler Yaremchuk and Carter Hutton, shed light on what was really happening behind the scenes, and it paints a picture of a team that had reached its breaking point.

“This is a team that needed a change,” Peters explained, pointing to the Golden Knights’ aggressive management style. “They don’t wait. They don’t care about your feelings… you’re gonna get fired like that.”

Despite their position in the standings, Vegas is on pace for its worst statistical season since entering the league in 2017–18. For a franchise known for its win-now mentality, that simply wasn’t going to cut it.

But it wasn’t just about results. Peters also hinted at deeper issues inside the locker room, particularly when it came to Cassidy’s demanding coaching style. Over time, that approach may have started to wear on key players — something that became increasingly visible on the ice.

“It’s hard when you have a coach that coaches like Cassidy every single day,” Peters said. “It kind of wears on you.”

In the end, the move may not have been about panic, but about timing, and what the players wanted. And if anything, Peters admitted he was more surprised the change didn’t come sooner.

Now, with Tortorella behind the bench, Vegas is betting that a late shakeup can spark a playoff run, even if it means making one of the boldest coaching decisions of the season.