Tortorella Tapped to Lead Golden Knights' Playoff Push

Veteran coach brings wealth of experience to struggling Vegas squad

Mar. 30, 2026 at 3:18am

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The Vegas Golden Knights have turned to veteran NHL coach John Tortorella to lead their late-season playoff push, tapping the former Stanley Cup winner and two-time Jack Adams Award recipient to take over the struggling team with just eight games remaining in the regular season. Tortorella, who has over 23 years of NHL head coaching experience, is tasked with quickly righting the ship and guiding the Golden Knights back to the postseason.

Why it matters

The Golden Knights have underperformed this season and find themselves on the outside of the playoff picture, making Tortorella's hiring a critical move to salvage the campaign. Tortorella's proven track record of success, including a Stanley Cup championship and two coach of the year awards, makes him an ideal candidate to provide an immediate boost and spark the team's turnaround.

The details

Tortorella will take over the Golden Knights on Monday and look to replicate the 'Tortorella effect' that has seen him revive struggling teams in the past. His no-nonsense approach and ability to get the most out of his players could be exactly what the Golden Knights need to secure a playoff berth. Tortorella has extensive international coaching experience as well, including serving as an assistant for the gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic team in 2026 and as head coach at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

  • Tortorella will take over the Golden Knights on Monday, March 30, 2026.
  • The Golden Knights have just 8 games remaining in the regular season to secure a playoff spot.

The players

John Tortorella

A veteran NHL head coach with over 23 years of experience, including a Stanley Cup championship with the Tampa Bay Lightning and two Jack Adams Awards as the league's top coach.

Jack Eichel

American forward who played for the U.S. Olympic team that won gold in 2026 with Tortorella as an assistant coach.

Noah Hanifin

American defenseman who also played for the U.S. Olympic team that won gold in 2026 with Tortorella as an assistant coach.

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What they’re saying

“If it can happen in hockey, he's likely seen it over parts of 23 seasons as a head coach in the NHL.”

— Gary Lawless, Author

What’s next

Tortorella will have just 8 games to turn the Golden Knights' season around and guide them to a playoff berth. The team's performance under his leadership will determine if he remains the head coach beyond this season.

The takeaway

Tortorella's hiring represents a last-ditch effort by the Golden Knights to salvage their season and secure a playoff spot. His wealth of experience and proven track record of success make him an ideal candidate to provide an immediate boost, but the pressure is on to quickly turn things around in Vegas.