Vegas had gotten ‘a little stale’ ahead of Tortorella hiring, Stone says
NHL.com • • sports
Key Points:
- John Tortorella was named head coach of the Vegas Golden Knights following the firing of Bruce Cassidy, with eight games left in the season to help the team reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
- The Golden Knights have struggled recently, going 4-10-2 since the NHL returned from the 2026 Winter Olympics, with issues including slow starts and allowing the first goal in 43 of 74 games.
- Team leaders like Jack Eichel and Mark Stone acknowledged a lack of energy and emotion in recent performances, expressing hope that Tortorella’s coaching will reignite the team’s competitive spirit.
- Tortorella brings extensive NHL experience, including a Stanley Cup win with Tampa Bay in 2004, and has prior connections with several Golden Knights players from previous coaching roles and international competition.
- The Golden Knights currently sit third in the Pacific Division and are positioned for a playoff push, with Tortorella and the team focused on making minor adjustments and winning their upcoming games to secure a postseason spot.
