Vegas Golden Knights relieve Bruce Cassidy as head coach, name John Tortorella replacement

The Vegas Golden Knights announced on Sunday the dismissal of head coach Bruce Cassidy and appointment of John Tortorella as replacement, with eight games remaining in the 2025-26 NHL regular season.

General manager Kelly McCrimmon issued a statement thanking Cassidy for his service over four seasons, including leading the team to the Stanley Cup in 2023.[1] "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," McCrimmon said.

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."[2]

Cassidy was hired as Golden Knights head coach on June 13, 2022, following four seasons with the Boston Bruins.[3] Under his leadership in 2022-23, Vegas defeated the Florida Panthers to claim the franchise's first Stanley Cup on June 13, 2023.[1]

Tortorella won the Stanley Cup as head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004, defeating the Calgary Flames in seven games.[4] His NHL regular-season coaching record stood at 766-608-37 through the end of the 2023-24 season.[5]

The NHL regular season consists of 82 games per team, with the top three teams in each division qualifying for the playoffs along with wild cards.[6]

The Pacific Division is one of four in the NHL's Western Conference.

Sources

  1. NHL.com
    Golden Knights win first Stanley Cup
    June 13, 2023
    https://www.nhl.com/news/golden-knights-win-stanley-cup-with-1-0-victory-over-panthers-in-game-5-of-final
  2. Vegas Golden Knights
    Golden Knights Name Bruce Cassidy Head Coach (context for GM role)
    June 13, 2022
    https://www.vgk.com/news/golden-knights-name-bruce-cassidy-head-coach
  3. Vegas Golden Knights
    Golden Knights Name Bruce Cassidy Head Coach
    June 13, 2022
    https://www.vgk.com/news/golden-knights-name-bruce-cassidy-head-coach
  4. NHL.com
    Lightning win Stanley Cup
    June 7, 2004
    https://www.nhl.com/news/lightning-win-stanley-cup-2004-final
  5. Hockey-Reference.com
    John Tortorella Coaching Record
    Accessed October 2024
    https://www.hockey-reference.com/coaches/tortorella_john.html
  6. NHL.com
    NHL Structure
    Accessed October 2024
    https://www.nhl.com/info/standings-info