The Vegas Golden Knights will not bring John Tortorella back to their coaching staff after the 2025-26 season, the team announced on June 16. General Manager Kelly McCrimmon said Tortorella’s short stint delivered the immediate impact the organization wanted during a pivotal stretch of the year.
McCrimmon said the decision came after Tortorella joined the club in March and helped steady the team down the stretch. That push, according to the Golden Knights, helped guide them to the Stanley Cup Final.
Tortorella’s brief but meaningful role
In a statement released by the team, McCrimmon thanked Tortorella for the guidance, passion, sincerity, and commitment he brought to the organization. He also said the Golden Knights needed help quickly when the move was made, and Tortorella’s experience and leadership provided the boost they were looking for.
“We thank Torts for the guidance he provided our team since joining the organization in March,” McCrimmon said. “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.”
What comes next for Vegas
The Golden Knights did not announce a replacement as part of the update. The club simply confirmed that Tortorella will not return following the season, closing a short chapter that began in March and ended after a playoff run that reached the Final.
Vegas, owned and operated by Black Knight Sports and Entertainment LLC, remains one of the NHL’s most prominent franchises. The team, established by Bill Foley and his family, won the Stanley Cup in 2022-23 after becoming the most successful expansion franchise in North American professional sports history in 2017-18.
