Golden Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon Swaps Coaches in Bid to Revive Struggling Team

McCrimmon moves on from Cup-winning coach Bruce Cassidy, bringing in John Tortorella to try to spark a turnaround.

Apr. 4, 2026 at 2:40pm

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In a surprising move, the Vegas Golden Knights have fired head coach Bruce Cassidy and replaced him with veteran coach John Tortorella. The decision comes as the Golden Knights have struggled since the Olympic break, winning only 5 games in that span. GM Kelly McCrimmon felt it was time for a change, despite Cassidy leading the team to its only Stanley Cup title just last season.

Why it matters

The move to replace a recent Cup-winning coach so late in the season is highly unusual and signals a sense of urgency from the Golden Knights' front office to turn things around. It could also prompt other struggling teams to take a harder look at their coaching situations, even if they have a recent championship pedigree.

The details

The Golden Knights have won only 3 of their last 10 games, prompting McCrimmon to make the coaching change. Cassidy was in his second season with the team after being fired by the Boston Bruins. Tortorella, a veteran coach known for his intense style, takes over with 8 games left in the regular season as the Golden Knights try to secure a playoff spot.

  • The Golden Knights fired Bruce Cassidy on April 4, 2026.
  • Cassidy led the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup in 2023, their first championship.

The players

Kelly McCrimmon

The general manager of the Vegas Golden Knights who made the decision to fire Bruce Cassidy and hire John Tortorella.

Bruce Cassidy

The former head coach of the Vegas Golden Knights who was fired despite leading the team to the Stanley Cup in 2023.

John Tortorella

The veteran NHL coach who was hired by the Golden Knights to replace Bruce Cassidy as head coach.

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What they’re saying

“We lost our spirit and lost our energy as a team. We waited as long as we could on this.”

— Kelly McCrimmon, General Manager, Vegas Golden Knights

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This coaching change highlights the intense pressure and high expectations facing NHL teams, even those that have recently won a championship. It shows that GMs are willing to make bold moves to try to spark a turnaround, even if it means parting ways with a successful coach.