"I would like to thank Bill Foley, George McPhee, Gerard Gallant and the rest of the Golden Knights staff for this tremendous opportunity," said Vegas Golden Knights Assistant Coach Ryan Craig. "I would also like to thank my family, former teammates and coaches for their continued support as I make the transition from a player to a coach. I look forward to the challenge and the excitement that this new phase in my career will bring."

"I am proud to add Ryan as an assistant coach," said Vegas Golden Knights Head Coach Gerard Gallant. "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."

VEGAS - (June 9, 2017) - Vegas Golden Knights General Manager George McPhee announced today, June 9, that the team has hired Ryan Craig as an assistant coach. Craig joins Mike Kelly as the second assistant coach named to Golden Knights Head Coach Gerard Gallant's coaching staff. Craig and Gallant will be available to media by phone on a request basis.

Craig, 35, joins the Golden Knights after a 14-season playing career where he skated in 198 career NHL games and 711 career American Hockey League games.

Craig last played in the Columbus Blue Jackets organization, captaining the Cleveland Monsters (formerly Lake Erie Monsters) of the AHL for the last two seasons. He was the team captain for the 2015-16 Lake Erie Monsters squad that captured the 2016 Calder Cup championship. This past season with the Monsters, he had 11 goals and 11 assists for 22 points in 71 regular season games.

The Abbotsford, British Columbia native split his 198 NHL games between the Tampa Bay Lightning, Pittsburgh Penguins and the Blue Jackets. In those games, Craig scored 32 goals and put up 31 assists for 63 points and 148 penalty minutes. In his 711 AHL games, Craig totaled 360 points with 172 goals, 188 assists and 554 penalty minutes. He served as the team captain for four different AHL clubs including the Monsters, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Norfolk Admirals and the Springfield Falcons.

He was selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the eighth round (255th overall) in the 2002 NHL Draft. Craig made his NHL debut for the Lightning in the 2005-06 season.

Craig played junior hockey with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League. In 2003, he was named the WHL and Canadian Hockey League Humanitarian of the Year.

He and his wife Jaydee have a son, Carson (9) and daughters, Kylie (7) and Camryn (3).

The Vegas Golden Knights are a National Hockey League franchise owned and operated by Black Knight Sports and Entertainment LLC. The Vegas Golden Knights were established by founding partners William Foley and his family and the Maloof family. For the latest news and information on the Golden Knights visit vegasgoldenknights.com. Fans can follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat.