Vegas cuts ties with experienced coach
Two days after the Vegas Golden Knights lost the Stanley Cup Final to the Carolina Hurricanes in six games, the team announced the dismissal of 68-year-old head coach John Tortorella. Despite leading the Golden Knights to their first Stanley Cup Final in franchise history, Tortorella was let go by the organization.
Tortorella became the team's interim head coach in March after Bruce Cassidy was let go, and immediately helped guide the Golden Knights to a deep playoff run. The team reached the Stanley Cup Final but ultimately fell short, and the coaching change was made swiftly after the loss.
In an interview with The Athletic, Tortorella described the decision as 'disappointing.' He said his meeting with general manager Kelly McCrimmon lasted just minutes and that the outcome was clear within one minute. Vegas promoted Ryan Craig from within, giving him the head coaching job. Craig had previously coached the Golden Knights' AHL affiliate and was chosen to continue the team's momentum.
Tortorella wants to keep coaching
Tortorella stressed that he has no intention of retiring. 'Oh, I want to coach,' he said. 'I want to coach now.' He added that he was still struggling to accept how close the Golden Knights came to the Stanley Cup. 'I'm still trying to swallow how close we were,' he said.
Despite his disappointment, Tortorella offered to help his successor. 'I would help him any way,' he said of Ryan Craig. He praised Craig as a 'good coach and man' and expressed confidence in his ability to lead the team moving forward.
A decorated coaching career
Tortorella has been an NHL coach for over 20 years, with 1,628 career games coached. His biggest success came in 2003–04, when he led the Tampa Bay Lightning to their first Stanley Cup. This marked a landmark achievement in his coaching career and solidified his reputation as a skilled leader.
Following the Lightning, he coached the New York Rangers, Vancouver Canucks, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Philadelphia Flyers before joining the Golden Knights. This was the first time since the 2012–13 season that he had guided a team beyond the second round of the playoffs. Tortorella said he 'loved being part' of the Golden Knights and wanted to stay with the organization longer. Despite the recent setback, he remains optimistic about returning to the bench for another team.
While he admitted to being disappointed by his removal in Vegas, he expressed respect for the direction the organization is heading. Tortorella's deep understanding of the game and his extensive experience will likely continue to serve him well as he seeks a new opportunity in the NHL.