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The Vegas Golden Knights only have eight games left in the 2025-26 season, but they decided to make the surprising decision to fire and replace their head coach.
Vegas announced Sunday that they have relieved Bruce Cassidy as head coach and replaced him with John Tortorella.
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Vegas Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy watches during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, on March 3, 2026, in Buffalo, New York. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes, File)
“We thank Bruce Cassidy for his dedication to our hockey club and our community over the past four seasons,” Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon said in a news release. “Under Bruce’s leadership, we achieved our ultimate goal in 2023 by bringing a Stanley Cup to Las Vegas. Bruce will always be remembered with the utmost respect by our organization for what was accomplished here. With the final stretch of the 2025-26 regular season upon us, we believe change is necessary for us to return to the level of play expected of our club.
“With John Tortorella, we bring a Stanley Cup champion as well as one of the most experienced and respected coaches in the NHL. His direction will be a great asset to our team at the crucial point in the season we currently face. We look forward to welcoming John to Las Vegas.”
Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Tortorella arrives at a news conference at the NHL hockey team’s arena on May 12, 2023 in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)
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The Golden Knights fell to the Washington Capitals, 5-4, on Saturday in a shootout. It marked the team’s third consecutive loss and sixth loss in its last seven games.
Vegas is 32-26-16 this season and is in third place in the Pacific Division. If the season ended on Sunday, the team would be in the playoffs and would have a series against the Edmonton Oilers in the first round.
Tortorella did not coach in the NHL this season. He spent time as an assistant for the US team at the Milan Cortina Olympics in 2026. The Americans took the gold medal.
Washington Capitals players celebrate as Vegas Golden Knights right wing Pavel Dorofeyev (16) skates off the ice after failing to score during a shootout in an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 28, 2026 in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ian Maule)
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He has 770-648-37 as a head coach. He won a Stanley Cup title with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004.
