Golden Knights start 8-2-0 under new coach Ryan Craig, fall to Tampa Bay
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The gist
The Vegas Golden Knights opened 8-2-0 under first-year head coach Ryan Craig before losing to Tampa Bay.
Vegas leads the NHL in goals behind captain Mark Stone.
Background
The Vegas Golden Knights are an NHL team based in Paradise, Nevada, that has played at T-Mobile Arena since their inaugural 2017-18 season; Bill Foley's Black Knight Sports & Entertainment is the majority owner, Kelly McCrimmon is general manager and Mark Stone is captain. Ryan Craig, a former assistant coach and head coach of the Henderson Silver Knights, was named the fifth head coach in franchise history on June 17, 2026, after John Tortorella was announced as not returning following the 2026 Stanley Cup Final. The team's fast opening stretch has drawn attention because Vegas has now reached at least 11 points in its first eight games every season since 2022-23, a run that began under former coach Bruce Cassidy.
How it unfolded
- Jun 14, 2022Bruce Cassidy was named the team's third head coach.
- Mar 29, 2026Cassidy was fired and John Tortorella was named the team's fourth head coach.
- Jun 16, 2026After the 2026 Stanley Cup Final, the team announced Tortorella would not return as head coach.
- Jun 17, 2026Former assistant coach and Henderson Silver Knights head coach Ryan Craig was named the fifth head coach in franchise history.
- Oct 15, 2026Vegas beat the Calgary Flames 6-2 at T-Mobile Arena; Mark Stone recorded a natural hat trick in the third period, the second hat trick of his career, and Carter Hart stopped 28 of 30 shots.
- Oct 18, 2026Mark Stone scored a power-play goal against Pittsburgh for his fourth goal in 40 minutes, and Trevor Connelly tallied his fourth of the season to lead all NHL rookies.
- Oct 20, 2026A morning skate report had the Golden Knights at 8-2-0 preparing to face the Tampa Bay Lightning at T-Mobile Arena.
- Oct 21, 2026Tampa Bay beat Vegas, with John Carlson scoring the go-ahead goal and Anthony Cirelli scoring twice.
Who’s saying what
- Coach
- Ryan Craig said there is a lot of trust in all of the players and that some get the opportunity, citing Bowman in the preseason and Trevor Connelly, and said those players did a real good job.
- Analysts
- SinBin.vegas wrote that Craig's Golden Knights could match or exceed the franchise's best start, while cautioning that a larger sample size is needed before calling it a winning formula.
Still unverified
SinBin.vegas wrote that it is possible Craig's Golden Knights match or exceed the franchise's best start, noting the 2023-24 team began 7-0-0 and went 12-2-1 in its first 15 games, and that Vegas could finish its first 15 with the same 12-2-1 record.