From backlash to Pacific title: The Golden Knights’ John Tortorella gamble paying off so far
Mar 30, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella holds a presser after the Golden Knights defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images Stephen R.
Sylvanie/Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images LAS VEGAS — General manager Kelly McCrimmon was walking away from the Golden Knights’ locker room after a victory over the Jets, but he easily could have reversed course and done a victory lap in front of the assembled media. McCrimmon probably would say it’s too early to celebrate because the NHL playoffs have yet to begin, and that will be the true measure of how successful Vegas’ season is viewed.
But it’s difficult to argue his controversial decision March 29 to fire popular and successful coach Bruce Cassidy and hire John Tortorella hasn’t worked out. Going into its playoff opener at home against Utah, Vegas is 7-0-1 under the fiery coach known as Torts. A team struggling to hang on to a playoff spot just won the Pacific Division for the fifth time in their nine years.
Top center Jack Eichel, who had 90 points for the second consecutive season, said Tortorella injected confidence in a team that was lacking it just three years after winning the Stanley Cup. “Sometimes you need a reminder,” Eichel said. “He saw we have a really good hockey team in here and we need to believe in ourselves and in each other.
That’s the first step to being a great hockey team is believing in ourselves. I think you’ve started to see that the last few weeks. We started to build more confidence in each other and our game.