John Tortorella’s time in Vegas is over.
The Golden Knights announced Tuesday that Tortorella will not return as the team’s head coach after taking them to the Stanley Cup Final, ending a short but impactful stint with the organization.
Tortorella joined the Golden Knights in March as Vegas looked for an immediate boost during a pivotal point in the season.
General manager Kelly McCrimmon said the move gave the team what it needed, with Tortorella helping guide the Golden Knights to their third Cup Final appearance in franchise history.
They lost to the Hurricanes in six games in a series that ended Sunday.
“We thank Torts for the guidance he provided our team since joining the organization in March,” McCrimmon said in a statement. “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.”
The parting of ways was not unexpected. Tortorella said in an interview with Sportsnet during the Stanley Cup Final that he’d be leaving the team at season’s end.
“Everybody knows that I came on here and end of June, I’m done, as far as with Vegas. Kelly and I made that agreement when we first talked,” Tortorella said.
The Golden Knights did not announce a replacement or any further coaching staff changes in Tuesday’s release. However, Sportsnet linked the team’s AHL head coach Ryan Craig, a former Golden Knights assistant, to the head coaching gig.
The announcement brings an end to a brief partnership between Vegas and one of hockey’s most recognizable coaching figures.
Tortorella’s arrival was framed as a late-season move designed to provide experience and leadership, and the Golden Knights credited him with helping the team through its playoff push.
Vegas has been one of the NHL’s most successful recent franchises since entering the league in 2017-18.
The organization reached the Stanley Cup Final in its inaugural season and won the Stanley Cup in 2022-23.
The Golden Knights now head into the offseason with at least one change to their coaching staff after another deep postseason run.
