LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The Guys in Gold have a new head coach.
John Tortorella spoke to members of the Las Vegas media as the new head coach for the Vegas Golden Knights.
You can watch that full press conference here:
He takes the helm with only eight games left in the regular season and the postseason ahead.
This came after the announcement on Sunday that Butch Cassidy was out as head coach.
General Manager Kelly McCrimmon said, in part, "a change was necessary for us to return to the level of play that is expected for our club."
McCrimmon spoke to members of the media Monday morning to address the change:
The coaching change came after the Golden Knights lost to the Washington Capitals on Saturday.
It was the third straight loss for Vegas and ended up being the final game with the team for Bruce Cassidy.
He'd been with the Golden Knights since 2022 and led the team to the Stanley Cup Championship in 2023.
Now, another Stanley Cup winner is taking his place.
He last coached the Philadelphia Flyers but was let go a year ago in his third season with the team.
McCrimmons says Tortorella is one of the most respected coaches in the league and hopes his guidance will be a great asset, saying he expects Tortorella to give the team a spark.
McCrimmon also told the press that Tortorella would be with the Golden Knights through the end of this season and playoff run, and then they would re-evaluate where he stands going into next season.
Tortorella will soon have a chance to show his leadership style as the Golden Knights prepare to face the Vancouver Canucks at T-Mobile Arena. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.
-
Stars win 5-4 in shootout after blowing 3-goal lead to Golden Knights
Vegas' Mitch Marner forced overtime when he used his stick to keep the puck from leaving the offensive zone and then blasted a shot from the left point with 48.7 seconds left.
Flames insider says Rasmus Andersson gives Golden Knights a blue-line boost
Calgary reporter Ryan Pike says Rasmus Andersson was a “gigantic” piece for the Flames and believes his instincts, shot and fire make him a perfect fit for Vegas’ Stanley Cup push.
Knights in the Morning: Reilly Smith looks to reach 1,000 games
Reilly Smith has played in 965 NHL games in his career and looks to reach 1,000 with the Vegas Golden Knights.
Jake Evans scores in overtime to lift Canadiens past Golden Knights 3-2
Pavel Dorofeyev scored both goals for the Golden Knights, who lost their third straight game against Montreal, dating back to last season.