Tortorella Brings High-Paced Approach to Golden Knights

New head coach John Tortorella emphasizes speed and pressure in first practice with Vegas

Apr. 1, 2026 at 11:03pm

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John Tortorella held his first practice as the new head coach of the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday, putting the team through an up-tempo skate focused on pace and pressure. Players noted the increased intensity, with defenseman Noah Hanifin saying the practice was 'a really good start towards us getting to how we want to play.' Tortorella explained his philosophy of allowing skilled players more freedom to make decisions, rather than over-coaching.

Why it matters

Tortorella's arrival in Vegas marks a significant shift in coaching style for the Golden Knights, who won the Stanley Cup in 2023 under a more structured system. The veteran coach is known for his demanding, high-intensity approach, which he believes will unlock the full potential of the team's talented roster.

The details

Tortorella, who was hired on Sunday, used Tuesday to get organized and prepare for his first practice with the team on Wednesday. He put the players through a 45-minute session focused on pace and pressure, with the goal of getting the 'blood moving' after a hectic schedule of games. The coach said he doesn't want to practice two days in a row at this time of year, so the team will have an optional skate on Thursday before their next game against the Calgary Flames.

  • Tortorella was hired as the new Golden Knights head coach on Sunday, March 31, 2026.
  • He held his first practice with the team on Wednesday, April 2, 2026.
  • The Golden Knights' next game is against the Calgary Flames on Thursday, April 3, 2026.

The players

John Tortorella

The 67-year-old Tortorella was hired as the new head coach of the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday, March 31, 2026.

Noah Hanifin

A defenseman for the Vegas Golden Knights who commented on the increased pace and intensity of Tortorella's first practice.

Kelly McCrimmon

The general manager of the Vegas Golden Knights, who Tortorella consulted with regarding the team's schedule.

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What they’re saying

“A lot of pace, a lot of skating but I think it's good for our group. There's not a lot of time left here but we have to get our game back and get some pace into it. That starts in practice.”

— Noah Hanifin, Defenseman

“Pace, yeah. We wanted to move the blood hard. I don't want to practice two days in a row at this time of year. Talking to Kelly [McCrimmon], the schedule's been crazy, basically playing every other night.”

— John Tortorella, Head Coach

“The biggest thing is, like I've talked about, is we want a pressure game. We want to pressure up the ice. We want to check forward. We also want to pressure in the defensive zone.”

— John Tortorella, Head Coach

“I think the team has been coached very well anyway, prior to me coming here. I think coaches, we get in the way. I think we overcoach. All coaches in the NHL do the same thing: we want to try to control a lot of things for the right reason, trying to make them the best they can be, trying to make the team the best they can be. But with today's athlete, sometimes less is better.”

— John Tortorella, Head Coach

What’s next

The Golden Knights will have an optional practice on Thursday, April 3, 2026 before their game against the Calgary Flames that evening.

The takeaway

Tortorella's high-intensity, pressure-focused approach represents a significant shift in coaching philosophy for the Golden Knights, who will look to the veteran bench boss to unlock the full potential of their talented roster and return to championship contention.