Tortorella 'disappointed' by Vegas' decision, hopes for next job

John Tortorella says he is disappointed by the decision from the Vegas Golden Knights to move in a different direction. The veteran coach arrived as an interim replacement late in the regular season and led the team through a successful playoff run that reached the Stanley Cup Final.

Vegas finished the regular season with a strong 7-0-1 record under Tortorella. The team swept the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference finals and held a 2-1 lead in the championship series against the Carolina Hurricanes before ultimately falling in six games. Despite this performance, general manager Kelly McCrimmon informed Tortorella shortly after the season ended that the organization planned to proceed with Ryan Craig as head coach. Craig previously led the organization's AHL affiliate.

Tortorella expressed respect for the organization and the decision-making process. He shared that his conversation with management was honest and direct. The coach noted that he wanted to continue working with the group in Las Vegas and remains proud of how close the team came to securing a championship title.

Now 68 years old, Tortorella is actively seeking his next opportunity in the league. He stated that he still wants to coach at the professional level. His career includes six different NHL teams and a previous Stanley Cup victory with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Tortorella emphasized that his focus is already on where his next role might be.

The postseason run for Vegas ended a ten-year stretch where Tortorella had not advanced past the second round. He also addressed a past controversy regarding a missed news conference during the second round against the Anaheim Ducks, clarifying that his decision to stay with the team was about timing rather than any intent to avoid media obligations. The league issued a fine and stripped a draft pick following that incident, but the veteran coach remains committed to his next move.