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Vegas Golden Knights Hire Ryan Craig as Head Coach After Firing John Tortorella
The Golden Knights named their AHL coach to the top job one day after parting with John Tortorella. Craig, 44, becomes the franchise's fifth head coach since 2017.
Jun 19, 8:41 AM·2m read1 source
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The Vegas Golden Knights promoted Ryan Craig from head coach of their AHL affiliate to NHL head coach on Wednesday. Craig, 44, will be a first-time NHL head coach. He replaces John Tortorella, whose deal was set to end June 30.
The Golden Knights moved on from Tortorella one day before announcing Craig's promotion. Their season ended Sunday with a 3-0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. Craig played for three NHL teams over eight seasons.
His playing career ended in 2017, and he transitioned into coaching months later. He played five seasons for the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings and served as a two-year captain. Kelly McCrimmon was GM and franchise co-owner of the Brandon Wheat Kings during Craig's time there.
The Golden Knights hired Craig as an assistant coach in 2017, and he remained in that role until 2023. Craig was named head coach of the Henderson Silver Knights in 2023. The team reached the Calder Cup playoffs this season and advanced to the Pacific Division semifinals before losing in three games.
"He's ready to be an NHL head coach. That carried the day," McCrimmon said. Craig becomes the first homegrown coach the Golden Knights have produced to take over the team. He is the third head coach the franchise has had since late March and the fifth since its inaugural 2017-18 season.
The Golden Knights fired Bruce Cassidy with eight games remaining in the regular season and hired Tortorella. Tortorella guided the Tampa Bay Lightning to a Stanley Cup in 2004. The Golden Knights won seven of their final eight regular-season games under Tortorella.
They defeated the Utah Mammoth, Anaheim Ducks, and Colorado Avalanche in the 2026 playoffs before reaching the Stanley Cup Final. The Golden Knights took a 2-1 series lead in the Stanley Cup Final with a double-overtime win in Game 3. The Carolina Hurricanes won the next three games and clinched the Stanley Cup, becoming the first team this postseason to shut out the Golden Knights.
