Vegas crowned Ryan Craig as its new head coach after the Golden Knights’ run to the Stanley Cup Final ended in a 3-0 loss to Carolina. Craig, 44, steps in as the team’s first home‑grown coach. He guided the Henderson Silver Knights to the Calder Cup playoffs before taking the helm in June following the dismissal of the former coach.

Tortorella’s contract had run through June 30, and he finished the season with a 21-8-1 record before the Finals. Craig takes over a roster packed with core talent, including Pavel Dorofeyev, Jack Eichel and Mark Stone, as the front office faces $4.625 million in cap space and a looming free‑agency shift for the 2026 season ahead.

Craig’s promotion signals a shift toward continuity, but the Knights still must decide on four unrestricted free‑agent forwards and four defensemen, including Rasmus Andersson, after a blockbuster trade that sent Zach Whitecloud and a first‑round pick to Calgary. The team’s ownership will weigh these moves before July 1 as the market tightens and players seek new prospects.

With Craig at the helm, the Golden Knights enter a critical offseason where coaching stability must match roster decisions. The organization’s next moves will determine whether the franchise can sustain playoff contention or pivot toward rebuilding in 2026 and beyond while fans expect results soon.