The NHL Coaches’ Association has publicly criticized the Vegas Golden Knights for blocking Bruce Cassidy from speaking with other teams despite being fired earlier this season. The league’s coaches union called the move “unprecedented” and said it violates the spirit of fair employment practices for head coaches.
Bruce Cassidy was fired by the Golden Knights on March 29, 2026, with eight games remaining in the regular season. He was replaced by John Tortorella, who has led Vegas to a strong playoff push, including a Western Conference Final showdown with the Colorado Avalanche. Despite his dismissal, Cassidy still has a contract with Vegas for the upcoming season, giving the team the right to control his availability for other coaching interviews.
The Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings are among several teams that have reached out to the Golden Knights to speak with Cassidy. He has a strong track record with the Knights, leading them to the Stanley Cup in 2023 and posting a 178-99-43 overall record in three seasons. His impressive résumé has made him one of the most sought-after coaching candidates in the NHL.
The NHLCA released a statement on Tuesday stating:
“The NHLCA has been closely monitoring the situation involving Bruce Cassidy. While we respect the League’s rules and processes, it is our position that coaches who remain under contract, but are no longer working for their Club, should not be prevented from pursuing other employment opportunities. It would be unprecedented at the head coaching level should multiple teams be denied permission to speak with Coach Cassidy. The situation is still unfolding, but our priority is to protect the interests of our members in this type of circumstance.”
The league is reportedly unlikely to intervene in the matter. If the Golden Knights decide to pay Cassidy’s salary to keep him from being interviewed, there is little the NHL can do to stop them. This puts the Oilers and Kings in a difficult position, as they had reportedly planned to make offers to hire the veteran coach.
Cassidy is under contract for the 2026-27 season, and if the Golden Knights continue to block interviews, other teams may be forced to look elsewhere for their next head coach. The situation highlights a growing point of contention between teams and the NHLCA over how to treat fired coaches who are still under contract.
The next step will be whether the Golden Knights allow Cassidy to speak with other teams or choose to block him outright. If they do the latter, the Oilers and Kings may have to finalize their coaching choices without the benefit of speaking with one of the most experienced and successful candidates on the market.
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