After a short three-month stint with the Vegas Golden Knights, culminating in a run to the Stanley Cup Final, head coach John Tortorella will not be returning to the coaching staff next season.
Credit Image: © Justin Cooper/Cal Sport Media
Vegas Golden Knights General Manager Kelly McCrimmon has announced John Tortorella will not return to the team's coaching staff following the 2025-26 season.
Press release ➡️ https://t.co/KRK6lB8ZZQ pic.twitter.com/65sGbTZRR2
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 16, 2026
John Tortorella Departs Vegas Organization After Cup Final Run
“We thank Torts for the guidance he provided our team since joining the organization in March,” said Vegas general manager Kelly McCrimmon in a press release. “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. Torts’ experience and leadership proved to be the boost that we were looking for, helping guide us to the Stanley Cup Final. We are grateful for Torts’ passion, sincerity, and commitment to our organization, and we wish him and his family the best.”
This did not come as a surprise, as Tortorella was brought in under contract until the end of the current season only. It was an unorthodox but well-timed hire to give a floundering Vegas group a spark, and that it did.
Tortorella has a record of 777-648-37 through 1,628 regular-season games coached across six teams. His playoff record is 70-72. He led Vegas to a 7-0-1 finish in the regular season, finishing first in the Pacific Division, as well as a 14-8 record in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Fate of Former Coach Remains in the Balance
As the Stanley Cup Playoffs are over now, we still await the news about former head coach Bruce Cassidy. It was rumoured that Vegas denied teams seeking to interview Cassidy, including the Edmonton Oilers. Cassidy went on record on the Spittin Chiclets Podcast to express his displeasure about the whole situation.
“It’s upsetting…There was two teams that asked it’s public knowledge now, and I would like to talk to them. I want to go to work. I’m a hockey coach.”
Bruce Cassidy speaks on Vegas not allowing him to interview for other teams. pic.twitter.com/cXx4ijCKZS
— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) May 28, 2026
McCrimmon and the Vegas organization are known for their ruthlessness, but is it finally the time to allow Cassidy to seek other opportunities? Is there a reality where Cassidy could somehow return as coach of the Golden Knights?
Main Photo Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
