The Vegas Golden Knights announced on Sunday that they have relieved Bruce Cassidy of his head coaching duties and named John Tortorella as replacement with eight games remaining in the 2025-26 NHL regular season.[1]
Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon, who has led the front office since 2019,[2] issued a statement thanking Cassidy. "We thank Bruce Cassidy for his dedication to our hockey club and community over the past four seasons," McCrimmon said. "Under Bruce’s leadership, we reached our ultimate goal in 2023 by bringing a Stanley Cup to Vegas. Bruce will forever be remembered with the utmost regard by our organization for what was accomplished here. With the stretch run of the 2025-26 regular season upon us, we believe that a change is necessary for us to return to the level of play that is expected of our club."[1]
McCrimmon added of Tortorella: "With John Tortorella, we bring in a Stanley Cup Champion as well as one of the most experienced and respected coaches in the NHL. His guidance will be a great asset to our team at the pivotal point in the season we currently face. We look forward to welcoming John to Vegas."[1]
Cassidy was named head coach of the Golden Knights ahead of the 2022-23 season and led the team to the franchise's first Stanley Cup title in 2023.[3][4]
Tortorella won the Stanley Cup as head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004.[5][6] He most recently served as head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers.[7]
Sources
- Fox News Digital, "The Vegas Golden Knights only have eight games remaining in the 2025-26 season, but decided to make the stunning move to fire and replace their head coach", March 29, 2026, https://www.foxnews.com/sports
- NHL.com Golden Knights, "Kelly McCrimmon", accessed October 2024, https://www.nhl.com/goldenknights/team/kelly-mccrimmon
- NHL.com, "Golden Knights defeat Panthers in Game 5 to win Stanley Cup", June 13, 2023, https://www.nhl.com/news/golden-knights-defeat-panthers-in-game-5-to-win-stanley-cup-345099888
- Golden Knights official website, "2023 Stanley Cup Champions", accessed October 2024, https://www.nhl.com/goldenknights/news/golden-knights-win-stanley-cup-presented-by-geico
- NHL.com, "Lightning rally past Flames in third to win Stanley Cup", June 8, 2004, https://www.nhl.com/news/lightning-rally-past-flames-to-win-first-stanley-cup/c-785667
- Wikipedia, "John Tortorella", accessed October 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Tortorella
- NHL.com Flyers, "John Tortorella", accessed October 2024, https://www.nhl.com/flyers/team/john-tortorella
