Vegas Golden Knights fire second head coach in just three months after brutal collapse in
The Vegas Golden Knights have fired coach John Tortorella after his team’s failure to win the Stanley Cup.
Tortorella’s firing comes after he was on the job for just 12 weeks. It’s the second coach the Golden Knights fired this season, after Tortorella replaced Bruce Cassidy, who won a Stanley Cup with Vegas in 2023.
Cassidy’s firing was a highly controversial decision at the time, made only more controversial by replacing him with one of hockey’s most polarizing figures. Now, after Tortorella’s team put up one of the worst defensive performances in a Stanley Cup Final in history, he will not be returning.
‘We thank Torts for the guidance he provided our team since joining the organization in March,’ Vegas general manager Kelly McCrimmon said in a 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.
The Vegas Golden Knights have fired head coach John Tortorella after losing the title
Tortorella was hired after Vegas fired Stanley Cup winner Bruce Cassidy mid-season
After leading his team to the Finals, Tortorella’s defense imploded to the Hurricanes
‘We are grateful for Torts’ passion, sincerity, and commitment to our organization, and we wish him and his family the best.’
Hired with eight games left in the regular season, Tortorella went 7-0-1 to help Vegas clinch the Pacific Division title.
He then helped the Golden Knights win playoff series over the Utah Mammoth, Anaheim Ducks and Colorado Avalanche to reach their second Stanley Cup Final in four seasons.
But in the Final, the Golden Knights’ defense collapsed in on itself as they lost in six games to the Carolina Hurricanes.
One of the biggest criticisms of Tortorella was his insistence on using controversial goalie Carter Hart.
After Hart put up a strong performance in the prior playoff series, he surrendered 22 goals in six games and cratered to a horrific .863 save percentage.
Hart became the first goalie in the history of the Stanley Cup Finals to surrender at least four goals in his five straight appearances.
Despite this poor run, Tortorella never swapped him for another goalie all series long and even criticized a reporter when they asked about other options, calling it ‘the stupidest question I’ve ever heard.’