John Tortorella not returning as Golden Knights head coach after run to Stanley Cup Final

John Tortorella will not return as Vegas Golden Knights head coach, the team announced on Tuesday.

"We thank Torts for the guidance he provided our team since joining the organization in March," said general manager Kelly McCrimmon 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. We are grateful for Torts' passion, sincerity, and commitment to our organization, and we wish him and his family the best."

Tortorella, 67, replaced Bruce Cassidy as head coach with eight games to play in the regular season. The Golden Knights went 7-0-1 heading into the Stanley Cup playoffs. They eliminated the Utah Mammoth and Anaheim Ducks in six games before sweeping the Presidents' Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Final to reach their third Stanley Cup Final in franchise history.

Vegas' title run would end in a six-game defeat to the Carolina Hurricanes in the Cup Final.

There was no guarantee that Tortorella would be back with the Golden Knights beyond the 2025-26 NHL season. When he was brought on his contract only ran through the end of the playoffs.

Following the Golden Knights' Game 6 loss in the Stanley Cup Final on Sunday night, Tortorella said he had not begun to think about next season. "I have to swallow [this loss] first."

Prior to arriving in Las Vegas, Tortorella had previously served as head coach of the New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Vancouver Canucks, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Philadelphia Flyers. He led the Lightning to a Stanley Cup in 2004.

In 1,628 regular season games as an NHL head coach, Tortorella's 777 wins are ninth all-time in league history.