Ryan Craig, a former NHL player turned coach, was officially introduced as the new head coach of the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday, marking a rare internal promotion for the franchise.
A New Era Begins
Craig’s ascent began in the early 2010s when he started documenting strategies in a personal journal, a habit that later earned him nine captaincies as a player in the American Hockey League.
After years of apprenticeship, he joined the Golden Knights’ staff in 2017 and, despite several head‑coach changes, remained a constant presence, eventually guiding the Henderson Silver Knights to a franchise‑record 90 points this season.
General manager Kelly McCrimmon, who has known Craig since the player’s teenage years with the Brandon Wheat Kings, praised the coach’s big‑picture approach and his deep familiarity with the organization’s talent pool, including captain Mark Stone.
Craig’s hiring breaks the team’s usual pattern of recruiting seasoned NHL coaches, reflecting a confidence that the organization can develop its own leadership. The Golden Knights, who have reached the playoffs in eight of nine seasons and are listed at 10‑1 to win the Stanley Cup at BetMGM, view the move as a continuation of their winning culture.
With the new coaching staff in place, the franchise aims to extend its postseason streak and contend for the Cup once again, leveraging Craig’s intimate knowledge of the roster and his vision for sustained success.