Golden Knights hire Ryan Craig as head coach
The Vegas Golden Knights have found their replacement for John Tortorella.
On Wednesday morning, the Golden Knights officially named Ryan Craig the fifth head coach in their franchise history, confirming a rumor that has been swirling for weeks — even while Tortorella was still behind their bench.
Craig, 44, has served as the head coach of the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights for the past three seasons, leading them to a 39-21-7-5 record and a Calder Cup Playoff berth this year.
The Knights introduced Craig as their new head coach just one day after announcing that Tortorella would not return for the 2026-27 season after leading them to the 2026 Stanley Cup Final.
COACH CRAIG ⚔️ Vegas Golden Knights General Manager Kelly McCrimmon has announced Ryan Craig will be the fifth Head Coach in franchise history. Press release ➡️ vgk.io/VEPdN
Since retiring as a player in 2017, Craig has worked exclusively in the Golden Knights’ organization. His ties with current Vegas general manager Kelly McCrimmon date back more than two decades to when they were both with the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings, whom Craig captained from 2001 to 2003.
Craig served as an assistant coach with Vegas from the franchise’s inception in 2017 to 2023, when he was tapped to lead the Silver Knights. During his initial tenure in Vegas, Craig worked on coaching staffs led by Gerard Gallant, Peter DeBoer, and Bruce Cassidy.
As a player, Craig skated in 198 career NHL games over parts of eight seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Columbus Blue Jackets, collecting 32 goals and 63 points. The 6’2″ center also appeared in 11 career playoff games, coincidentally all under Tortorella with the Lightning in 2006 and 2007.
The Golden Knights won the Pacific Division in the 2025-26 season with a 39-26-17 record and 95 points in 82 games. They relieved Cassidy of his coaching duties with just eight games remaining in the regular season and brought in Tortorella, who coached for the team under his previous contract with the Philadelphia Flyers (which is set to expire June 30). Under Tortorella, the Golden Knights fell to the Carolina Hurricanes in six games in the 2026 Stanley Cup Final.