Golden Knights Move On From John Tortorella Sport By lines June 16, 2026 The Vegas Golden Knights will not retain head coach John Tortorella. The team announced the decision Tuesday. Tortorella guided Vegas to the Stanley Cup Final. Tortorella Exits After a Surprise Run to the Final The Vegas Golden Knights announced John Tortorella’s exit on Tuesday. General manager Kelly McCrimmon thanked Tortorella for his guidance. Tortorella joined the Golden Knights in March 2026. Tortorella replaced Bruce Cassidy with eight games left in the regular season. John Tortorella went 7-0-1 across the Golden Knights final eight regular-season games. Tortorella then steered Vegas through three playoff rounds. The Golden Knights reached the Stanley Cup Final under Tortorella. Tortorella, 67, owns one Stanley Cup title as a head coach. Few NHL teams part with a coach after a Stanley Cup Final run. The Golden Knights reached the Final in Tortorella’s partial season. Vegas went 7-0-1 down the stretch under Tortorella. The move signals Vegas wanted a permanent hire all along. John Tortorella won the 2004 Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Tortorella has also coached the Rangers, Blue Jackets, Canucks, and Flyers. Tortorella ranks among the winningest American-born coaches in NHL history. Vegas marks Tortorella’s sixth NHL head-coaching stop. The Vegas Golden Knights now reopen a head-coaching search this offseason. The Golden Knights lost the Stanley Cup Final to the Carolina Hurricanes in six games. Carolina raised the Cup for the second time in franchise history. Vegas must find a coach to chase a second Cup. The Golden Knights hired Tortorella as a short-term fix, not a long-term answer. Vegas won the Stanley Cup in 2023 under a different staff. The roster still features that championship core in 2026. Ownership wants a coach aligned with a multi-year window. The Carolina Hurricanes beat the Golden Knights in the 2026 Stanley Cup Final. Vegas pushed Carolina to six games before bowing out. The Golden Knights now weigh both retreads and first-time coaches. Vegas wants a staff to maximize a closing championship window. The Vegas Golden Knights enter the 2026 offseason without a head coach. The Golden Knights hold a veteran roster built to win now. Vegas faces tight salary-cap math heading into free agency. Watch which experienced coaches surface on the Golden Knights short list. Related Sports Coverage Hurricanes Win Stanley Cup With Game 6 Shutout Hurricanes Take Cup Hunt to Vegas for Game 6 Sunday Hurricanes Grab 3-2 Cup Lead, One Win From a Title Sources: ESPN, Pro Hockey Rumors, and Yahoo Sports reported the Golden Knights decision on Tuesday.
