The Vegas Golden Knights have already turned the page on their Stanley Cup Final defeat, announcing Ryan Craig as the team’s new head coach on Wednesday. Craig, a longtime organization fixture, replaces John Tortorella, who was not retained after leading the team to the Cup Final following Bruce Cassidy’s firing late in the regular season.

General manager Kelly McCrimmon addressed the coaching change and the team’s outlook during his end-of-season media availability. He expressed disappointment in falling to the Carolina Hurricanes in six games but emphasized confidence in the roster’s core. “I thought we played great hockey in the playoffs and was extremely disappointed we weren’t able to finish the (Final) as champions,” McCrimmon said. “I tip my cap to the Carolina Hurricanes organization but really felt strongly our team was the best team.”

Craig has been with the Knights since their inception nine years ago, serving as an assistant before spending the past three seasons as head coach of the Henderson Silver Knights in the AHL. He will be formally introduced on Thursday.

The Knights’ season was marked by a grueling schedule, with eight players participating in the Olympics and several logging over 110 games including playoffs. Despite inconsistency during the regular season, Vegas won the Pacific Division and surged in the playoffs before falling short. McCrimmon noted the team’s resilience: “We saw a lot with our team. We have a great nucleus. We have great leadership. We have great character.”

Looking ahead, the Knights will focus on free agency and the draft to retool for another run. “The train never stops,” McCrimmon said. “Over the next couple weeks, we’ll continue doing what we always do.”