The Vegas Golden Knights are looking for a new coach after their Stanley Cup run, saying John Tortorella isn’t returning.
The Golden Knights are a win-now team, evidenced by them firing Bruce Cassidy with eight games left in the regular season and hiring Tortorella. The move worked as Tortorella turned around the slumping team, won the Pacific Division and three rounds of the playoffs before Vegas lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in the Stanley Cup Final.
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One of the bigger available names, Peter Laviolette, was hired by the Los Angeles Kings. The Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers are far along in their coaching searches, which could take more names out of circulation. Craig Berube is available, but would a reunion with Mitch Marner be a good thing?
Here are potential candidates for the Golden Knights’ coach opening:
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Hurricanes win 2026 Stanley Cup as celebration takes over the ice
The Carolina Hurricanes secured the Stanley Cup, closing out the series with a championship‑winning performance.
See the defining moments from the title‑clinching game as the Hurricanes lifted the Cup.
Above, Carolina Hurricanes celebrate the win against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 6 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena.
(Lucas Peltier, Imagn Images)
1 / 10
Hurricanes win 2026 Stanley Cup as celebration takes over the ice
The Carolina Hurricanes secured the Stanley Cup, closing out the series with a championship‑winning performance.
See the defining moments from the title‑clinching game as the Hurricanes lifted the Cup.
Above, Carolina Hurricanes celebrate the win against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 6 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena.
(Lucas Peltier, Imagn Images)
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Hurricanes win 2026 Stanley Cup as celebration takes over the ice
Carter Hart #79 of the Vegas Golden Knights defends the net against Andrei Svechnikov #37 of the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period in Game 6 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 14, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
(Ethan Miller, Getty Images)
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Hurricanes win 2026 Stanley Cup as celebration takes over the ice
Jordan Staal #11 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates at the end of Game 6 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on June 14, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
(Ethan Miller, Getty Images)
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Hurricanes win 2026 Stanley Cup as celebration takes over the ice
The Carolina Hurricanes celebrate winning Game 6 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 at T-Mobile Arena on June 14, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
(Bruce Bennett, Getty Images)
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Hurricanes win 2026 Stanley Cup as celebration takes over the ice
Nikolaj Ehlers #27 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates a goal in the third period against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 6 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 14, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
(Ethan Miller, Getty Images)
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Hurricanes win 2026 Stanley Cup as celebration takes over the ice
The Carolina Hurricanes celebrate after beating the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 in Game 6 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 14, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
(Ethan Miller, Getty Images)
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Hurricanes win 2026 Stanley Cup as celebration takes over the ice
Mark Jankowski #77, Brandon Bussi #32 and Jaccob Slavin #74 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrate after beating the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 in Game 6 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 14, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
(Ethan Miller, Getty Images)
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Hurricanes win 2026 Stanley Cup as celebration takes over the ice
K’andre Miller #19 of the Carolina Hurricanes reacts after winning against the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 in Game 6 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 14, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
(Ethan Miller, Getty Images)
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Hurricanes win 2026 Stanley Cup as celebration takes over the ice
The Carolina Hurricanes celebrate a goal scored by Taylor Hall #71 of the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 6 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 14, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
(Bruce Bennett, Getty Images)
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Hurricanes win 2026 Stanley Cup as celebration takes over the ice
Commissioner Gary Bettman presents Jordan Staal #11 of the Carolina Hurricanes with the Conn Smythe Trophy after winning in Game 6 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 at T-Mobile Arena on June 14, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
(Ethan Miller, Getty Images)
Ryan Craig, Henderson Silver Knights coach
He’s the coach of the Golden Knights’ American Hockey affiliate and was an assistant coach on Vegas’ 2023 championship team, so he’ll be familiar to players. He got Henderson to the second round of the AHL playoffs this year. It seems as some point, he will get the job.
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Hire from within
John Stevens and Dominique Ducharme are former NHL head coaches. Stevens was an assistant coach for the 2012 and 2014 champion Kings and the 2023 Golden Knights. Ducharme led the Montreal Canadiens to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final, getting past the Golden Knights along the way.
Jay Woodcroft, Anaheim Ducks assistant coach
Woodcroft worked with star players on the Edmonton Oilers in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, and the Golden Knights have plenty of stars. Edmonton reached the conference finals in his first season in 2021-22 and had 50 wins in his second season. He was fired after a slow start in this third season.
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He’s a big name who had success in junior hockey. But he might not be a good fit because he has never advanced out of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Islanders replaced him with four games left in the regular season.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: John Tortorella out: Golden Knights coaching candidates
