Vegas Golden Knights
· 2026-06-27
The Vegas Golden Knights have hired Ryan Craig as their new head coach, replacing John Tortorella, who led the team to the Stanley Cup Final.
The Golden Knights decided not to retain Tortorella and instead promoted Craig, the coach of their American Hockey League affiliate.
The team's general manager, Kelly McCrimmon, said the decision was made to bring in a new perspective and to continue the team's success.
The Golden Knights are currently standing 4th in the Western Conference with a 39-26 record, on a W3 streak, after losing 0-3 to the Carolina Hurricanes on 2026-06-15.
McCrimmon pushed back on criticisms of the team, saying that people are jealous of their success.
The Golden Knights will officially introduce Craig as their new head coach, and McCrimmon will discuss the hire in more detail.
The team's decision to hire Craig, a 44-year-old with no prior NHL head coaching experience, is seen as a high-risk move.
But McCrimmon believes that Craig is the right person for the job, citing his experience as an assistant coach in Vegas and his success as the head coach of the Henderson Silver Knights.
The Golden Knights' ruthless decision-making has been on display in recent years, with the team making several blockbuster trades and signings.
McCrimmon defended the team's approach, saying that they are committed to winning and will do whatever it takes to achieve that goal.
The Golden Knights' fans have been critical of the team's decision to hire Craig, but McCrimmon believes that they will come to support him once they see his coaching style.
The team's players have also expressed their support for Craig, saying that they are excited to work with him.