The Vegas Golden Knights announced Tuesday that head coach John Tortorella won't return after bringing the team within two wins of a Stanley Cup title.
Tortorella was hired with eight games left in the campaign, and the team played exceptionally well under his guidance, going 7-0-1 in the regular season and 14-8 in the playoffs.
His contract only covered the remainder of the season, but given his success, his dismissal two days after Game 6 of the Cup Final is a bit of a stunner. So, where do the two sides go from here?
What's next for Golden Knights?
Splitting with a coach who came so close to delivering a Stanley Cup signals that this may have been the plan all along, regardless of how 2025-26 ended. When the Golden Knights fired Bruce Cassidy in March, perhaps they'd already selected his long-term successor.
Ryan Craig is the most obvious candidate to be Vegas' next bench boss. He's been head coach of the AHL's Henderson Silver Knights for the last three seasons. Before that, he was a Golden Knights assistant coach for six years under Gerard Gallant, Pete DeBoer, and then Cassidy.
Craig was part of the inaugural Golden Knights team that went to the Stanley Cup Final. He was there in 2023 when they won the Cup. He has relationships with several players on the roster. Moreover, he has a relationship with Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon dating back to 1998. Craig spent five seasons playing for the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings, ending in 2003, while McCrimmon was the owner and GM.
Replacing Tortorella with a different veteran coach would make zero sense. Replacing him with Craig, however, makes total sense.
Tortorella perfect fit for Oilers
Before the final, Tortorella said he wants to coach next season. The Edmonton Oilers - the only remaining team with a vacancy - appear to be seeking a no-nonsense, experienced, Cup-winning bench boss who can help get them over the hump. Is this a match made in heaven?
The pairing would also be objectively hilarious. It's well-documented that the Golden Knights have blocked the division-rival Oilers from interviewing Cassidy. They're able to do so because Cassidy was signed through next season before he was relieved of his duties. But since Tortorella's contract officially expires June 30, there's nothing the Golden Knights can do if the Oilers want to interview him. Edmonton hiring Tortorella, in part to spite Vegas, would be incredible.
Pettiness aside, the fit also makes a lot of sense. The Oilers' top players reportedly want to be pushed. After having more youthful players' coaches in Kris Knoblauch and Jay Woodcroft, they seem interested in a more old-school approach. That's why they reportedly interviewed Craig Berube and Peter Laviolette and are even considering Mike Babcock despite the public relations nightmare that's resulted.
Baggage aside, Tortorella is a far superior option to Babcock, who hasn't even won a playoff series since 2013. Tortorella has consistently elevated the defensive performance of the teams he's coached, something the Oilers desperately need. Even at age 67, his Golden Knights tenure proved he can get the most out of a team in a short period of time. With so much pressure on the Oilers to win before Connor McDavid's contract expires in 2028, they're looking for immediate results. Sticking it to Vegas would just be a bonus.
