Golden Knights Swiftly Appoint Ryan Craig as New Head Coach
WHO:
NHL.com - Ryan Craig is 44 years old and is the fifth head coach in Vegas Golden Knights history.
Newsweek - Ryan Craig has been appointed as the new head coach of the Golden Knights.
Sportskeeda - John Tortorella is the former head coach of the Golden Knights.
WHAT:
NHL.com - Ryan Craig's Henderson Silver Knights achieved a record of 39-21-12 and earned 90 points in the 2025-26 season, establishing franchise records.
NHL.com - The Henderson Silver Knights won 28 games in the 2023-24 season, 29 in the 2024-25 season, and 39 in the 2025-26 season under Craig's leadership.
Newsweek - The Golden Knights announced the hiring of Ryan Craig as head coach just twenty-four hours after announcing John Tortorella's departure.
Sportskeeda - Fans reacted to the swift hiring of Ryan Craig, indicating surprise at the speed of the decision.
WHERE:
Newsweek - The announcement took place within the organization of the Golden Knights, a professional ice hockey team.
WHEN:
Sportskeeda - The hiring of Ryan Craig occurred shortly after John Tortorella's departure was announced.
WHY:
NHL.com - The Golden Knights hired Ryan Craig following John Tortorella's departure to continue building on the team's recent success.
Newsweek - The Golden Knights sought a new head coach following John Tortorella's exit.
HOW:
NHL.com - Ryan Craig previously served as an assistant coach with the Golden Knights for six seasons, from 2017 to 2023, and helped the team reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs in five of those six seasons.
Newsweek - The Golden Knights moved quickly to fill the head coach position after Tortorella's departure.
(UPDATED June 18, 2026 01:48 UTC)
Ryan Craig has been named the fifth head coach in the history of the Vegas Golden Knights at the age of 44, following John Tortorella's departure. Under Craig's leadership, the Henderson Silver Knights achieved a franchise record of 39 wins, 21 losses, and 12 overtime losses, earning a total of 90 points in the 2025-26 season, a significant improvement from previous years. Craig, who spent six seasons as an assistant coach with the Golden Knights, played a key role in helping the team reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs five times during his tenure.
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(UPDATED June 17, 2026 23:30 UTC)
The Golden Knights have appointed Ryan Craig as their new head coach, just twenty-four hours after announcing the departure of John Tortorella. Fans expressed surprise at the swift decision to hire Craig, highlighting the rapid changes within the organization. This quick move comes as the Golden Knights sought to fill the head coach position following Tortorella's exit.