Vegas Golden Knights Fire Head Coach Bruce Cassidy

Veteran coach John Tortorella hired as replacement for Cassidy, who led the team to its first Stanley Cup championship.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 1:07pm

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The Vegas Golden Knights have parted ways with head coach Bruce Cassidy, less than three years after he led the team to its first Stanley Cup championship. The team announced the change on Sunday after dropping three straight games and six of their last seven. Veteran coach John Tortorella has been hired to replace Cassidy, whose contract runs through the end of this season.

Why it matters

The decision to fire Cassidy caught much of the Golden Knights' fanbase off guard, as he was a popular figure who had brought the team its first championship. The move raises questions about the team's direction and whether coaching was truly the issue behind their recent struggles.

The details

The Golden Knights are currently ranked third in the Pacific Division, six points behind Anaheim and four points ahead of the Kings for a playoff spot. Tortorella, who has more than 20 years of head coaching experience, including a Stanley Cup win with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004, did not coach a team this past season after being fired by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2025.

  • The Golden Knights announced Cassidy's firing on Sunday, March 30, 2026.
  • Cassidy had been the Golden Knights' head coach since 2023, leading the team to its first Stanley Cup championship in 2024.

The players

Bruce Cassidy

The former head coach of the Vegas Golden Knights, who led the team to its first Stanley Cup championship in 2024.

John Tortorella

The veteran coach hired to replace Cassidy as the new head coach of the Vegas Golden Knights. Tortorella has over 20 years of head coaching experience, including a Stanley Cup win with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004.

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What they’re saying

“You fall in love with these players, you fall in love with these coaches and these personalities and then just rip your heart out when they're gone.”

— Walter Behre, Golden Knights Fan

“I'm feeling really sad that he just got let go. Me and my friends were talking about it earlier and we're just sad.”

— Landon Fandel, Golden Knights Fan

“I don't think the coaching is the problem with the Knights this year. Probably since coming of the Olympic break, our best players haven't been our best players. So that right now to me is the biggest issue.”

— Brian, Golden Knights Fan

“I feel like they turn over coaches when they don't win a season and instead of just hanging on to the coach and fighting through, they just move on to the next one and so we're disappointed for sure.”

— Karly Fandel, Golden Knights Fan

“We're going to miss you. We're going to miss you. I liked what your expectations you brought to the team. I liked the professionalism that you expected and I liked the honesty that you brought. Now it's just up for Tortorella's accountability.”

— Raymond Paio, Golden Knights Fan

What’s next

Tortorella will take over as the Golden Knights' head coach immediately, with the team hoping he can turn around their playoff push in the final weeks of the season.

The takeaway

The Golden Knights' decision to part ways with the popular Bruce Cassidy, just three years after he led the team to its first Stanley Cup, has left many fans disappointed and questioning whether coaching was truly the issue behind the team's recent struggles. The hiring of veteran coach John Tortorella brings a new approach, but also raises concerns about the team's ability to maintain stability and continuity.