John Tortorella opens up about getting fired by Vegas after losing the Stanley Cup Final

John Tortorella is speaking out about his abrupt departure from the Vegas Golden Knights. The coach who led the team to the Stanley Cup Final this year describes the experience as disappointing following a meeting with general manager Kelly McCrimmon the morning after their Game 6 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.

Tortorella was only in charge for eight games of the regular season before guiding the team through the playoffs. Despite that success, he notes that McCrimmon made the decision to move in a different direction within one minute of their conversation. Ryan Craig, previously the head coach of the AHL Henderson Silver Knights, is now set to lead the team.

Tortorella maintains that he had an honest relationship with the front office. He shared that he wanted more time with the group to finish the job but acknowledges that roster and coaching decisions rest with the management team. He remains respectful of the organization as he moves on from the position.

This move by Vegas marks a significant shift for the franchise after their deep run this postseason. Whether the decision to promote from within will yield the same results remains to be seen when the new season begins.