The Vegas Golden Knights are reportedly blocking the Edmonton Oilers from interviewing Bruce Cassidy, who was recently fired after winning the Stanley Cup. Cassidy has emerged as a sought-after coaching candidate in the NHL.
Key points
Vegas Golden Knights are blocking Oilers from interviewing Bruce Cassidy
Bruce Cassidy was recently fired after winning the Stanley Cup
Cassidy is a top coaching candidate in the NHL
Edmonton Oilers are interested in Cassidy despite having a coach
Mentioned in this story
Bruce CassidyKris Knoblauch
Vegas Golden KnightsEdmonton OilersLos Angeles Kings
The Vegas Golden Knights are onto bigger and better things after a surprise coaching change late in the regular season, now pursuing a championship with John Tortorella at the helm.
Bruce Cassidy, fired less than three years after winning the Stanley Cup in Las Vegas, became a hot head coaching candidate in a mostly quiet coaching cycle around the NHL, emerging as a top option for the Los Angeles Kings. They might not be the only interested team.
The Edmonton Oilers are looking to speak to Cassidy despite still employing coach Kris Knoblauch, but the Golden Knights haven't granted their Pacific Division rivals permission to interview the veteran coach.
Here's a look at why the Golden Knights are reluctant to allow the Oilers to interview Cassidy.
Why are the Golden Knights preventing the Oilers from interviewing Bruce Cassidy?
The Golden Knights have not granted the Oilers permission to interview Bruce Cassidy, who is a potential coaching candidate despite being recently fired.
What teams are interested in Bruce Cassidy as a head coach?
The Los Angeles Kings and the Edmonton Oilers are among the teams interested in Bruce Cassidy as a head coaching option.
Who is currently coaching the Edmonton Oilers?
Kris Knoblauch is currently the head coach of the Edmonton Oilers.
What was Bruce Cassidy's previous achievement with the Golden Knights?
Bruce Cassidy won the Stanley Cup with the Vegas Golden Knights less than three years before being fired.
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Why Golden Knights are withholding permission for Oilers to interview Bruce Cassidy
The Golden Knights still own Cassidy's rights because he is under contract and still being paid by the team after his firing. In most cases, it's simply a formality for a team to request and receive permission to interview a fired coach. Vegas is reportedly making it more than a formality for the Oilers.
The Golden Knights are withholding permission for the Oilers to interview Cassidy, Hockey247's Frank Seravalli reports. Vegas hasn't outright denied Edmonton permission, but the organization is at least slow-walking its answer despite allowing the fired coach to interview with the Kings.
Caught in the middle of the saga is the fact the Oilers don't currently have a coaching vacancy. The Golden Knights could feel empowered to block Cassidy because Edmonton already has a head coach, but Seravalli reports the exact reason isn't clear beyond the two teams being in the same division.
Vegas fired Cassidy and hired Tortorella simultaneously in March, so the concept of searching for a coach while employing a coach isn't anything the Golden Knights are unfamiliar with.
Seravalli reports the Golden Knights' hesitance "has raised the ire of coaches around the NHL, who view the gamesmanship as one step too far."
The Golden Knights fired Cassidy while fighting to make the playoffs in late March. Vegas was just 5-12 over its previous 17 games and was third in the Pacific Division with a chance of missing the playoffs altogether.
"With the stretch run of the 2025-26 regular season upon us, we believe that a change is necessary for us to return to the level of play that is expected of our club," Golden Knights General Manager Kelly McCrimmon said in a statement announcing the move.
While the decision to fire a Stanley Cup-winning coach was controversial, the Golden Knights caught fire down the stretch, won a weak Pacific Division and are two wins away from the Western Conference Final under Tortorella.
The Oilers appear to be searching for a head coach while employing a head coach, as Kris Knoblauch remains in place in Edmonton. That might not be the case for long.
Despite Knoblauch taking the Oilers to the Stanley Cup Final in back-to-back seasons, reports indicate Edmonton is considering a coaching change. Before Tuesday's report about Cassidy, Seravalli said he believes Knoblauch will be let go by the Oilers after a first-round exit.
The NHL can be cutthroat when it comes to head coaches, but getting only one more season after back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances would be a tough way for Knoblauch to go. The Oilers are, however, under serious pressure to win as Connor McDavid's future comes into question after the face of the franchise only signed a two-year extension with the team last offseason.
