John Tortorella says he is not ready to retire

Veteran NHL coach John Tortorella, 68, has publicly stated his desire to continue his head coaching career, two months after his brief tenure with the Vegas Golden Knights ended with a loss in the Stanley Cup Final. In an interview published on July 24, 2026, Tortorella expressed disappointment at not being retained but made clear he is not ready to retire.

Tortorella was hired by Vegas on March 29, 2026, replacing the fired Bruce Cassidy with just eight games remaining in the regular season. He led the team to a 7-0-1 record to close the campaign, secure the Pacific Division title, and embark on a playoff run. The Golden Knights defeated the Utah Mammoth and Anaheim Ducks in six games each before sweeping the Colorado Avalanche to reach the franchise's third Stanley Cup Final. There, they lost in six games to the Carolina Hurricanes.

The morning after the series-ending Game 6, Tortorella met with General Manager Kelly McCrimmon, who informed him that Ryan Craig, the coach of Vegas's AHL affiliate in Henderson, would be promoted to the NHL job. Tortorella said he respected the organization's decision, acknowledging Craig as a good coach who had been developed within the system...