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The Vegas Golden Knights have just eight games left in the 2025-26 season, but decided to take the amazing step of firing and replacing their head coach.
Vegas announced Sunday that they are replacing Bruce Cassidy as head coach, replacing him with John Tortorella.
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Vegas Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy looks on during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabers 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 community over the past four seasons,” Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon said in a press release. “Under Bruce’s leadership, we achieved our ultimate goal in 2023 of bringing a Stanley Cup to Vegas. Bruce will forever be remembered with the utmost respect by our organization for what was accomplished here. With the stretch run of the 2025-26 regular season upon us, we believe a change is necessary for us to return to the level of our club play expected.
“With John Tortorella, we are bringing in a Stanley Cup champion as well as one of the most experienced and respected coaches in the NHL. His guidance will be a great asset to our team at the pivotal point of the season we are currently facing. We look forward to welcoming John to Vegas.”
Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Tortorella arrives for 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 straight loss and sixth loss in their last seven games.
Vegas is 32-26-16 this season and in third place in the Pacific Division. If the season ended Sunday, the team would be in the playoffs and have a series against the Edmonton Oilers in the first round.
Tortorella was not a coach in the NHL this season. He spent time as an assistant for Team USA at the Cortina Olympics in Milan in 2026. The Americans took home 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 is 770-648-37 as head coach. He won a Stanley Cup title with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004.
