The Vegas Golden Knights are reportedly blocking the Edmonton Oilers from interviewing Bruce Cassidy for their head coaching job.
The Oilers were bounced from the NHL playoffs this year in the first round when the Anaheim Ducks pulled off a 4-2 upset in the best-of-seven series. It was a shocking and sudden end to the Oilers’ season, especially since the team had made it to the NHL Stanley Cup finals the last two years.
Because the Oilers lost in the first round, there have been reports that head coach Kris Knoblauch could be on the chopping block after such a disappointing end to their season. Indeed, it looks like the Oilers are in the market for a new head coach and have begun looking around the league for a new man to lead their bench.
Golden Knights Blocking Oilers From Speaking to Bruce Cassidy
On Tuesday, Frank Seravalli reported on X that the Oilers are interested in hiring former Vegas Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy for their head coaching job. Cassidy, who guided the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup in 2023, was fired by the team in March after the team struggled in the final stretch of the season. They replaced him with John Tortorella, who currently has the Golden Knights tied 2-2 in their best-of-seven series with the Ducks in the Western Conference semfinals.
According to Seravalli, the Oilers have asked the Golden Knights for permission to speak to Cassidy. However, up to this point, the Golden Knights are blocking the Oilers from speaking to him about their head coaching job. While things could certainly change, it appears the Golden Knights have no interest in letting a Pacific Division rival hire one of the league’s most respected coaches, even though they fired him two months ago. Although that’s the case, Cassidy is technically still under contract with the Golden Knights, and they are allowed to either give or deny permission to other teams to talk to him.
“League sources say #Oilers have sought permission to interview Bruce Cassidy as they contemplate significant coaching staff changes. To this point, sources say @GoldenKnights have withheld permission from division rival. Gamesmanship? Perhaps. Mostly unprecedented for role,” Seravalli wrote on X.
To this point, sources say @GoldenKnights have withheld permission from division rival.
Gamesmanship? Perhaps. Mostly unprecedented for role.
NHL Teams Usually Give Permission to Head Coaches to Seek New Jobs
Although the Golden Knights have the right to block Cassidy from talking to other NHL teams, it is certainly interesting that they are going ahead and doing so, as teams usually allow other squads to talk to coaches whom they have fired.
While it is true that Cassidy is still technically under contract and being paid, it does feel petty that the Golden Knights would try to stop him from collecting one of the 32 head coaching jobs in the NHL. Things could always change, and they may end up deciding to allow Cassidy to speak to the Oilers. But at this point, it looks like the Golden Knights do not want a division rival to speak to one of the best coaches in the league about taking over their bench. As Seravalli noted, there is a level of gamesmanship involved here. But it is still surprising the Golden Knights wouldn’t let Cassidy move on with his career and potentially get one of the very few NHL head coaching jobs available.
Golden Knights Blocking Oilers From Interviewing Bruce Cassidy