NHL Rumors: 3 Candidates For Next Golden Knights Head Coach

With the Vegas Golden Knights bidding farewell to coach Peter DeBoer, many names will start to surface over potential replacements. The team's ownership obviously has high standards, moving on to what will be their 3rd head coach after just five seasons in the NHL. 

Let's have a preliminary look at three candidates for this prime job opening behind the Vegas bench. 

Barry Trotz

Naturally, this will be the first name to appear for any team's search, as Trotz has had no shortage of success in his coaching career. Trotz is 3rd all-time in NHL coaching victories (914), owns two Jack Adams Awards for Coach of the Year, and a Stanley Cup as head man with the Washington Capitals. It was, in fact, the Golden Knights that he defeated in the finals in 2018 to secure that Cup win. 

Claude Julien

Another former Stanley Cup winning coach (2011 with the Boston Bruins), Julien would also fit the mold of proven winner that Golden Knights owner Bill Foley is surely looking for. With a career record of 667-445-10, he has plenty of experience.

John Tortorella

Another coach with Cup-winning pedigree, Tortorella is currently the last coach to figure out how to beat the two-time defending Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning in a series, back in 2019. He has a career 673-541-37 mark, and a Stanley Cup ring from 2004 with the Lightning. 

The Golden Knights fired Peter DeBoer earlier on Monday, after the team missed the playoffs for the first time in their 5-year existence. Foley said he'll have his hands all over the search for DeBoer's replacement. Foley added, "We're going to be careful. That's a big priority for me, and I'm going to be involved in it."

Photo Credit: Stephen Brashear-USA TODAY Sports