John Tortorella’s short run with the Vegas Golden Knights is over.
Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon announced Tuesday that Tortorella will not return to the team’s coaching staff following the 2025-26 season.
The move closes a brief but impactful stint. Tortorella helped push Vegas back to the Stanley Cup Final after joining the organization in March.
“We thank Torts for the guidance he provided our team since joining the organization in March,” McCrimmon said in a team 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.”
A Short Stay With a Big Impact
Tortorella joined the organization as Vegas looked for a spark during a critical point in the season.
The move worked in the short term. The Golden Knights stabilized, pushed through the Western Conference playoffs and reached the Stanley Cup Final.
Their run ended Sunday night, when the Carolina Hurricanes beat Vegas 3-0 at T-Mobile Arena to win the series in six games.
McCrimmon credited Tortorella’s experience and leadership for helping the Golden Knights make that run.
“We are grateful for Torts’ passion, sincerity, and commitment to our organization, and we wish him and his family the best,” McCrimmon said.
Another Offseason Question
Tortorella’s tenure was brief, but his influence was clear.
Players repeatedly pointed to the team’s confidence, structure and ability to reset during the postseason. Vegas survived momentum swings throughout the playoffs and came within two wins of another championship.
Now, the Golden Knights have another major offseason question.
Vegas must determine what comes next behind the bench while trying to keep a championship-caliber roster in position for another run.
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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
