John Tortorella will not return as Vegas Golden Knights head coach, the team announced on Tuesday.
“We thank Torts for the guidance he provided our team since joining the organization in March,” said general manager Kelly McCrimmon 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.”
Tortorella replaced Bruce Cassidy as head coach with eight games to play in the regular season. The Golden Knights went 7-0-1 heading into the Stanley Cup playoffs. They eliminated the Utah Mammoth and Anaheim Ducks in six games before sweeping the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Final to reach their third Stanley Cup Final in franchise history.
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Vegas’ title run would end in a six-game defeat to the Carolina Hurricanes in the Cup Final.
There was no guarantee that Tortorella would be back with the Golden Knights beyond the 2025-26 NHL season. When he was brought on his contract only ran through the end of the playoffs.
Following their Game 6 loss in the Stanley Cup Final on Sunday night, Tortorella said he had not begun to think about next season. “I have to swallow [this loss] first.”
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