Tortorella Reveals His Game Plan in Vegas

New Vegas Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella met the media in Las Vegas on Monday afternoon for the first time since taking the job on Sunday. He was asked how he expects to make his mark on the team. 

I know the (locker) room. I know it's a strong room, laden with playoff-tested players. I'm going to lean on my coaching staff, I've already leaned on some players already, just asking them for some thoughts. I have some points... One of them, in the games I've watched, I just want us to play faster... But I think that comes into mindset also... (But) I'm not going to overload them and paralyze them (with too many changes). 

He continued a few times to talk about their mindset and the possible reasons they've had so many slow starts to games. 

The biggest part of hockey now, I don't think it's the X's and O's, I do think it's your mind. That's a 'readiness'.

As for himself, he admits it's been a crazy 12 months for him, but he's ready to go.

"I got bombed out of Philly with nine games left last year, now I come in here with eight games left in a new job. It's a couple of crazy situations I've never been involved in before. But that's the league. That's pro sports. I think as coaches and players, when you get to this level, you need to be prepared to handle that stuff."

Golden Knights players say coaching change is a 'wake-up call' 

The Vegas players also revealed their reactions to the media for the first time since Cassidy was fired on Sunday. 

"Wake-up call, I think, for the group," said leading scorer Jack Eichel. "We obviously haven't been performing to our capability and expectations, so I think that it's a message that the management believes in us. But we have to start playing better."

"Obviously disappointing... These decisions happen, you take it a little on yourself too, right?," said captain Mark Stone. "But it's a new day, excited to get going. Still feel like we're in a pretty good spot in the standings."

There are many around Las Vegas who would beg to dinner. For a team that was thought to be a Stanley Cup contender, the Golden Knights are in 3rd place in the Pacific Division, three points back of Edmonton and six back of Anaheim. But they are also just four points up on the LA Kings, who are currently out of the playoffs.