The Vegas Golden Knights dismissed head coach Bruce Cassidy on March 29 and named John Tortorella as his replacement, a bold move with just eight regular-season games remaining.
General Manager Kelly McCrimmon announced the change in a statement, thanking Cassidy for his contributions over four seasons. Cassidy guided the Knights to their first Stanley Cup title in 2023, defeating the Florida Panthers in five games. He posted a 178-99-43 regular-season record with the team, including two 50-win campaigns. The organization praised his role in delivering the championship and his dedication to the club and Las Vegas community.
The decision came after a frustrating stretch for Vegas. The Knights sit third in the Pacific Division with a 32-26-16 record and 80 points, holding a four-point lead over the Los Angeles Kings, the first team outside the Western Conference playoff spots. Since the Olympic break, they have managed just a 5-10-2 mark, the second-worst in the NHL during that period. Their recent form includes one win in the last seven games and three in the last nine, capped by a 5-4 shootout loss to the Washington Capitals on Saturday. Vegas rallied from a 3-0 deficit with four straight goals but allowed Dylan Strome to tie it before falling.
McCrimmon cited the need for a shift to regain the club’s expected level of play in the season’s stretch run. Tortorella, a 2004 Stanley Cup winner with the Tampa Bay Lightning as head coach, brings extensive experience. He has coached 1,620 NHL games, sixth-most all-time, with 770 wins, ninth on the list. The fiery veteran recently served as an assistant for Team USA’s gold-medal Olympic team. This marks his return to an NHL bench after his previous stint with the Philadelphia Flyers ended a year ago.
Cassidy’s Vegas tenure followed early stints with the Washington Capitals and Boston Bruins, where he earned a Jack Adams Award in 2020. The Knights have a history of decisive coaching changes; they parted ways with Peter DeBoer in 2022 before hiring Cassidy, who delivered immediate success.
The move underscores Vegas’s high standards despite past achievements, including back-to-back playoff appearances after the 2023 Cup. Playoff-bound but vulnerable, the Knights hope Tortorella’s proven leadership sparks a turnaround as they chase a deep postseason run.
The Vegas Golden Knights have relieved Bruce Cassidy of his duties as head coach.
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) March 29, 2026
John Tortorella has been named head coach.#VegasBornhttps://t.co/TSTwVqXlbQ
