Overview
- The Golden Knights, who announced the coaching change Sunday, sit third in the Pacific at 32-26-16 with eight regular-season games remaining.
- General manager Kelly McCrimmon said the switch aims to restore the team’s standard after a rough March that includes a 4-9-2 stretch and six losses in the last seven games, with several coming in overtime or shootouts.
- John Tortorella, a 23-season head coach with a 2004 Stanley Cup and 770 wins, is set to take over immediately, with his debut possible Monday against the Canucks.
- Bruce Cassidy departs less than three years after delivering Vegas its first Stanley Cup in 2023 and had one year left on the five-year deal he signed in June 2022.
- Coverage notes Vegas’ underlying issues—erratic goaltending and recent scoring droughts—have hurt results and may challenge any rapid turnaround under Tortorella.