The National Hockey League feels that it’s up to the Vegas Golden Knights to decide if teams are permitted to speak with former head coach Bruce Cassidy while he is under contract, according to TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun.
LeBrun reports the NHL believes the Golden Knights are in line with their existing contractual rights as well as league policy in not issuing permission to teams to speak with Cassidy about a head coaching vacancy.
From NHL perspective, the league feels the Vegas response to date is consistent with the team’s existing contractual rights, as well as with established league policy. So, it remains very much up to the VGK if and when teams can talk to Cassidy while he's under contract. https://t.co/sGncXGoYHm
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) May 20, 2026
Cassidy was replaced by John Tortorella behind the Golden Knights’ bench in March but is under contract through next season. According to league rules, that means any team that wishes to speak with Cassidy must get permission from Vegas first.
Reports indicate the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings have not been granted permission by the Golden Knights to speak with Cassidy. The Kings, Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks are currently conducting head coaching searches.
While he did not reveal details about specific teams, general manager Kelly McCrimmon told reporters that clubs have requested permission to speak with Cassidy, but the club’s focus is instead on the Western Conference Final.
“We’ve been consistent that our focus currently is on the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the teams have respected that,” McCrimmon said Monday. “I’ve spoken with Bruce. He understands this, as well.”
The NHL Coaches’ Association said Tuesday that it believes Cassidy should be allowed to speak with other teams before his contract ends because he is not actively working with the Golden Knights.
“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,” the Coaches’ Association said in a statement.
“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.”
Cassidy, who turned 61 on Wednesday, coached the Golden Knights for nearly four seasons and led them to a Stanley Cup title in his first year with the team. Cassidy’s Golden Knights made the playoffs in each of the next two seasons but weren’t performing to the same level in 2025-26, causing them to make a coaching change with just eight games to go. Vegas was 32-26-16 at the time of Cassidy’s firing but won seven of their final eight games to close out the regular season under Tortorella.
They then defeated both the Utah Mammoth and Anaheim Ducks in six games in the opening two rounds to book a spot with the Colorado Avalanche in the Conference Final, which begins Wednesday night.
Prior to his time in Sin City, Cassidy coached the Boston Bruins from the 2016-17 season to 2021-22, reaching as far as the Stanley Cup Final in 2019. He also coached the Washington Capitals in 2002 and 2003.
All in all, Cassidy’s regular-season NHL head coaching record stands at 570-254-96 with nine ties.
