Edmonton Oilers
Golden Knights Confirm Worst-Kept Coaching Secret, Fallout to Filter Through NHL
Ryan Craig has been hired as the next head coach of the Vegas Golden Knights. After 9 years in the organization, it’s time.
The Vegas Golden Knights have landed on their guy. After firing Bruce Cassidy and bringing in John Tortorella for a single playoff push, the organization has told Torts he won’t be back, confirming the succession plan was to hire Ryan Craig as the franchise’s fifth head coach.
While everyone waits on the status of Cassidy and whether he’ll be allowed to interview — comments from McCrimmon confirm he has been allowed to interview with one team, and will take requests on a case-by-case basis– the Golden Knights were moving to Craig, who spent the past three seasons serving as head coach of the organization’s affiliate in the American Hockey League, the Henderson Silver Knights.
44 years old, Craig goes way back with McCrimmon. Craig played five seasons (1998-2003) for the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings, where McCrimmon was the team’s owner and general manager. He also served as an assistant coach with the Golden Knights for six seasons, from 2017 to 2023.
Craig’s coaching stock rose significantly while in the AHL. This was a person the Golden Knights had on their radar to be the head coach for some time. Tortorella was only a stopgap solution. Craig guided the AHL team to a breakout 39-21-7 record in 2025-26, securing its first Calder Cup Playoff appearance since 2022.
Craig has also played a key role in developing emerging prospects who recently reached the NHL, including Braeden Bowman and Kai Uchacz.
A former NHL forward who played under John Tortorella in Tampa Bay, Craig appeared in 198 NHL games.
What Happens Now Around the NHL?
With the hiring, fans and analysts will be watching for the fallout. What will come of Bruce Cassidy? Will the Golden Knights be open to allowing him opportunities to coach elsewhere? What about Tortorella, who has confirmed he’d like to continue coaching, but jobs around the NHL are limited.
It wasn’t long ago that several openings exists, but positions in Los Angeles and Toronto have now been filled. The Edmonton Oilers are the one team still trying to find a coaching solution. Their sights are set on Mike Babcock, but if the Golden Knights loosen the reins on Cassidy or Edmonton likes Torts, is there a pivot about to take place?
Next: Is the NHL Coaching Market About to Explode?
Discover more from NHL Trade Talk
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
More News
