New Golden Knights coach Craig ‘ready’ to continue winning culture

Two comments stood out when the Vegas Golden Knights introduced Ryan Craig as their new coach Thursday, four days after losing to the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final.

The first came from general manager Kelly McCrimmon, who made it clear the Golden Knights had not lowered their standards.

“We’ve always hired the best available coach, and that’s exactly what we’re doing today,” McCrimmon said. “We’re hiring the best available coach that’s going to lead our organization.”

The second came from Craig, who made it clear he felt up to the challenge.

“I’m ready,” Craig said. “I believe I’m ready for this.”

This represents a significant change for the Golden Knights, who have hired veteran, accomplished coaches to great success since entering the NHL as an expansion team in 2017-18.

Gerard Gallant had been an NHL head coach for parts of six seasons before joining Vegas. Peter DeBoer had been one for parts of 16 and made the Cup Final twice. Bruce Cassidy had been one for parts of eight, made the Cup Final once and won the Jack Adams Awards as coach of the year. John Tortorella had been one for parts of 23, won the Cup and won the Jack Adams twice.

The Golden Knights have made the Stanley Cup Playoffs eight times in their nine seasons. In that span, they have won 401 games in the regular season, fifth in the NHL, and 76 games and 15 series in the playoffs, more than any other team in each category. They went to the Cup Final in 2018 and won the Cup in 2023 before returning to the Cup Final this season.

Craig is a 44-year-old who has never been an NHL head coach before. But the Golden Knights believe the young rookie can continue their winning culture. That’s why they decided to hire Craig, even though Tortorella wanted to return after replacing Cassidy on March 29, finishing the regular season 7-0-1 and coming within two wins of a championship.

“I’ve said to him many times, ‘’Craiger,' you’re going to be a really good NHL head coach if you’re not in a hurry, and you need to do it in the proper steps,’” McCrimmon said. “He’s done exactly that.”

McCrimmon has known Craig since he was 15. Craig played center for Brandon of the Western Hockey League from 1998-2003, when McCrimmon was owner and GM. Craig served as captain his last two seasons.

Craig went on to play 198 games in the NHL and 711 in the American Hockey League, captaining three different AHL teams over nine seasons, winning the Calder Cup with Lake Erie in 2016. He played under coaches like Tortorella, Jared Bednar and John Hynes. Thinking ahead to a potential coaching career, he kept a journal of experiences.

“I always marvel at the fact he was an American Hockey League captain for nine different seasons, which just speaks to the leadership that he has,” McCrimmon said.

Craig has been with Vegas since the beginning. He served as an assistant for the Golden Knights’ first six seasons, working under Gallant, DeBoer and Cassidy, hoisting the Cup in 2023. Then he spent the past three seasons as coach of Henderson, the Golden Knights’ AHL affiliate based in a Las Vegas suburb, an important part of his development.

The Golden Knights hope Craig can become another Bednar, who rose from the AHL and won the Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022, or Jon Cooper, who rose from the AHL, won the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021, and won the Jack Adams this season.

“We’re fortunate we’ve been able to develop our own head coach,” McCrimmon said. “That’s not very common, quite frankly, and we’re glad that we’ve been able to keep him in our organization and have him lead our team.”

Craig has built-in knowledge and relationships. He knows what he’s getting into.

“I’ve been here nine years,” Craig said. “I understand the standards and the culture of this organization, and I’m proud to lead it and represent it.”

The Golden Knights will keep their identity.

“I’ve coached it,” Craig said. “I’ve lived it. In Henderson, we ran similar systems. Our players know it. They believe in it, so there’s going to be a seamlessness in that transition. There will be some tweaks, but I’m excited to get with the group and put my stamp on them while continuing what’s been built here over the last few years.”

The Golden Knights will keep striving to win.

“This team’s been built through standards since Day One, and those standards aren’t going to change,” Craig said. “You talked about winning the Stanley Cup or competing for the Stanley Cup. That’s the standard that is in this organization.

“As for expectations, we’re going to go about our business day in and day out with the goal in mind to continue to build, stack, get better each and every day, so that we have an opportunity when the calendar flips in mid-April to compete for the trophy.”