The Vegas Golden Knights have added another assistant coach to the mix, hiring Ryan Craig today. The 35-year old Craig played in the AHL last season with the Cleveland Monsters and served as their captain, but will retire and join an NHL coaching staff immediately. Joining Mike Kelly, Craig will assist Gerard Gallant behind the bench next season. Gallant made it clear why he was hired:
I am proud to add Ryan as an assistant coach. He is well-respected in the hockey community and has been a tremendous leader throughout his playing career, both on and off the ice. I am confident that the leadership characteristics he exuded as a player will translate well behind the bench in his new role as an assistant coach.
The veteran forward is another connection to the Brandon Wheat Kings and Assistant General Manager Kelly McCrimmon, who drafted Craig into the WHL and developed him as owner and GM of the team. Craig served as captain of the team for his final two seasons of junior hockey, and would quickly move into leadership roles on his professional teams as well. Suiting up for 198 NHL games across his playing career, the bruising center registered 63 points mostly in two successful seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning early on.
Clearly the Golden Knights feel as though Craig can step in and make an impact right away, as he’ll jump right from on the bench to behind it. Giving a young coach an opportunity and allowing him to learn the ropes with a team that has little pressure on it to win should go over well in the coaching fraternity, as they continue to try and brand themselves as a destination for players, coaches and executives around the league.