Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports
The Golden Knights punched their ticket to the Stanley Cup Final around two months after Bruce Cassidy was fired as the head coach in Las Vegas. The team has also blocked him from attempting to land a new job as the postseason unfolds, and he had some pointed remarks while addressing that awkward situation.
The 2025-26 NHL season marked Bruce Cassidy’s fourth year as the head coach of the Golden Knights, and the team was well on its way to clinching a spot in the playoffs for the fourth time during his tenure with the 32-26-16 record it had with eight games left on the schedule toward the end of March.
However, things took a pretty shocking turn on March 29th when Cassidy was fired following a loss to the Capitals, which came in the wake of a stretch where Vegas had lost six of its last seven games and posted a 3-5-2 record in the previous ten.
GM Kelly McCrimmon justified the decision by asserting “We lost our spirit and lost our energy as a team,” which led to the decision to replace Cassidy with John Tortorella.
That swap ended up being a pretty good call (media-related sanctions notwithstanding), as they capped off the regular season by going 7-0-1 under Torts and will get the chance to play for the Stanley Cup after sweeping the Avalanche in the Western Conference Finals.
The drama surrounding Cassidy’s dismissal has continued to linger during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and it’s very clear he is not happy with how his former team is handling a divorce where he’s been prevented from trying to find a new partner.
Bruce Cassidy put the Golden Knights on blast for blocking him from talking with other teams after he was fired
Cassidy’s contract with the Golden Knights was set to expire at the end of next season, and while the team willingly parted ways with him, it is still technically in control of his rights thanks to the NHL’s bylaws.
Earlier this month, the franchise reportedly shut down the Oilers and the Kings after they asked to interview Cassidy in their search for a new head coach. That drew a rebuke from the NHL Coaches’ Association, but McCrimmon attempted to position any talks as a distraction, saying:
“We’ve been consistent that our focus currently is on the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the teams have respected that. I’ve spoken with Bruce. He understands this, as well.”
That second claim may not be entirely true based on what Cassidy had to say during a recent interview with Spittin’ Chiclets, as the man who led the Golden Knights to a Stanley Cup victory in 2023 voiced his displeasure with the team’s meddling.
“It’s upsetting…There was two teams that asked it’s public knowledge now, and I would like to talk to them. I want to go to work. I’m a hockey coach.”
Bruce Cassidy speaks on Vegas not allowing him to interview for other teams. pic.twitter.com/cXx4ijCKZS
— Spittin’ Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) May 28, 2026
He bemoaned the situation he’s found himself in, saying:
“It’s upsetting, I’m going to be honest….. I can’t work until Vegas gives me permission and this contract is up at the end of next season. If I resign, all I do is not get paid…
There were two teams that asked [to speak with me]—it’s public knowledge now—and I would like to talk to them. I want to go to work. I’m a hockey coach. I want to get back to work.
I don’t know if there will be clarity on it. There hasn’t been.”
It seems safe to assume Cassidy won’t be out of a job for very long, but it sounds like he’s going to have to wait until the playoffs wrap up before he’s officially allowed to throw his hat into the ring.