Vegas Golden Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon has blamed the Edmonton Oilers for turning Bruce Cassidy’s coaching status into a public controversy.
McCrimmon stated that the story only gained traction after Edmonton leaked details. This incident comes after the Oilers expressed their interest in Cassidy but were denied permission to interview him by the Golden Knights.
McCrimmon stressed that the Golden Knights were forced to react as soon as the information came to light and had not started any public conversation.
Cassidy was dismissed by Vegas in late March, just weeks before the end of the regular season, even as the team sat in a playoff position. John Tortorella took over behind the bench and has led the Knights to their third Stanley Cup Final.
In an interview with OverDrive on Thursday, McCrimmon said:
“It’s only news because Edmonton leaked it. This isn’t something that came out of our organization,” McCrimmon said. “We’ve been forced to respond to it, which we did prior to our series against the [Colorado] Avalanche.”
He added:
“I’ve talked to Bruce. I’ve talked to Bruce as recently as yesterday. I know how he feels. I know he wants to coach. He’s a hell of a coach, and he’s anxious to get going. Coaches, by definition, aren’t real patient people, so I understand what he wants and why he wants it. At the same time, I work for the Vegas Golden Knights, and my responsibilities are first and foremost to the organization.”
The Oilers may have to shift their focus from Bruce Cassidy to different coaches
Bruce Cassidy remains under contract with the Golden Knights for one more season. Per league rules, teams must obtain permission from Vegas before formally interviewing him for any vacancy.
Several clubs, particularly division rivals Edmonton Oilers and LA Kings, have shown interest in speaking with Cassidy. However, the Golden Knights have so far delayed those requests while focusing on their playoff campaign.
Cassidy has voiced his disappointment multiple times, stating he is eager to return to coaching and explore opportunities with interested teams. According to reports, pulling off the move will not be easy for division rivals, particularly the Oilers, and they might have to shift their focus to different coaches.
Also Read: Bruce Cassidy voices frustration over Golden Knights denying teams permission to interview him – “I want to go to work
Edited by Abhishek Dilta
