Ryan Craig appointed head coach of Golden Knights following assistant role
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 18, 2026, 10:12 PM
Last updated Jun 18, 2026
Ryan Craig has been named the head coach of the Vegas Golden Knights, taking over from John Tortorella, who led the team to the Stanley Cup Final this season. Craig's appointment marks a significant shift for the franchise, as he is the first coach promoted from within the organization. After beginning his coaching career as an assistant in 2017, Craig gained head coaching experience with the Henderson Silver Knights, where he achieved a franchise record of 90 points this season. Craig's journey has been supported by Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon, who noted his long-standing potential in a coaching role. Craig expressed eagerness for his new role, emphasizing the importance of team management and player engagement.
- •Ryan Craig named head coach of Vegas Golden Knights on June 18, 2026.
- •Craig replaces John Tortorella, who took the team to the Stanley Cup Final.
- •He previously served as an assistant coach since 2017.
- •Craig gained head coaching experience with the Henderson Silver Knights.
- •The Golden Knights have high playoff expectations for the upcoming season.
- 10:12 PMYahoo Sports — Ryan Craig's journey to Golden Knights coach began as a player
"Ryan Craig wasn't ready to walk away from being a player, but he could see the end in sight in the early 2010s while playing in Pittsburgh's organization and began keeping a journal of how he might handle different situations as a coach. Others also envisioned him in a leadership role, and Craig was nine times named the captain of an American Hockey League team. Vegas general manager Kelly McCrimmon, who has known Craig for nearly 30 years, saw that potential early as well.
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