Imagine this scenario, dear reader. The Vegas Golden Knights celebrate their second Stanley Cup in nine seasons after disposing of the Carolina Hurricanes. Everyone celebrates at Toshiba Plaza and the atmosphere is electric. Everything is cool and Las Vegas is having another awesome party until 4 AM.
But then, the conversation shifts to a particular position. Suddenly, it's not all rainbows and ponies as the focus is on who the next bench boss will be. Now, there's a question that could affect the team's Stanley Cup window. Who will the fans go with in this particular scenario?
Will they go with John Tortorella, the man who would win his second hypothetical Stanley Cup in his career? Will they turn to Ryan Craig, a rising coach who had a spectacular season with the Henderson Silver Knights and is familiar with the Golden Knights' organization? Heck, could there even be consideration for someone else in this scenario?
Whatever the case, the Golden Knights will have a massive question on their hands. It's something that shouldn't concern the faithful now. But who would be the better fit for the organization for the long term? Here's a deep dive, should the scenario come true for the Golden Knights.
Who gets the nod as the Vegas Golden Knights head coach, should they win the Stanley Cup?
I've already made my intentions clear on why the Golden Knights should keep Tortorella around. The head coach has brought swagger and intensity unseen within the organization. Not only that, but players like Carter Hart and Mitch Marner have unleashed their talents on the masses.
Not only that, but the NHL has moved away from hiring long-term coaches. Look at what happened with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Craig Berube. A Stanley Cup-winning head coach out after two seasons, despite having Mitch Marner and a playoff appearance the year before? That's something that would've been unfathomable years ago.
But we live in an age of ADHD and shortened attention spans. If you're not cutting the mustard in today's game, you're out. That's the harsh lesson that Bruce Cassidy learned after three seasons with the Golden Knights. Win one Stanley Cup and you're out after the third season because the team's not performing.
Still, the Golden Knights are familiar with Ryan Craig. He's spent six seasons with the organization as an assistant coach, going from 2017 to 2023. Combine that with a surprising Henderson Silver Knights run this past season and it makes perfect sense to hire him.
Regardless, the Golden Knights have a massive question on their hands, should they win the Stanley Cup. Heck, they could face this question after the season even if they don't win the Stanley Cup. Whatever the case, the Golden Knights must assess what the future looks like, how their veteran group will respond, and where the league is heading. It'll go a long way in keeping Vegas competitive in the NHL scene, especially in a rising Pacific Division atmosphere.
Add us as a preferred source on Google