Vegas Golden Knights Name Ryan Craig Head Coach After Tortorella’s Departure

In a surprising move, the Vegas Golden Knights have named Ryan Craig, former Columbus Blue Jackets forward and captain of the Cleveland Monsters, as their new head coach. Craig steps into the role following the departure of John Tortorella, who led the team to the Stanley Cup Final before it was announced on June 16 that he would not return.

Craig has spent the last three seasons at the helm of the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights, where he faced ups and downs. Under his leadership, the Silver Knights missed the playoffs in two of those seasons but made a significant playoff run this year, winning a round against San Jose before being eliminated by Colorado in the Pacific semifinals. Prior to his stint with Henderson, Craig served as an assistant coach for the Golden Knights from 2017 to 2023, joining the team shortly after they captured the Stanley Cup in 2023.

Golden Knights General Manager Kelly McCrimmon expressed confidence in Craig’s capabilities, as he becomes the fifth head coach in franchise history. Craig’s connection to the organization runs deep; he captained multiple Columbus Blue Jackets affiliates, including the Springfield Falcons from 2012 to 2015 and the Lake Erie Monsters from 2015 until his retirement in 2017.

During his NHL career, Craig played a total of 198 games for the Blue Jackets, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Pittsburgh Penguins, although he only appeared in eight contests with Columbus without registering a point. This hire represents a departure from the Golden Knights’ usual approach, characterized by bold decisions. The franchise previously fired Bruce Cassidy with only eight games remaining in the season, opting for Tortorella to energize the team for a playoff push, which ultimately led to a six-game loss in the Cup Final against the Carolina Hurricanes.

As Craig takes the reins, questions loom about how he will manage a roster filled with stars and how long he will remain in this pivotal role. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely.

In related news, the Columbus Blue Jackets are gearing up for the NHL Draft set for June 26 and 27 in Buffalo, where they hold the 14th overall pick.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.