Opinion: Golden Knights GM Made The Unprecedented Bruce Cassidy Situation Worse
For better or worse, the Vegas Golden Knights consistently push the envelope on and off the ice.
This month, we saw the Golden Knights push it too far by denying former coach Bruce Cassidy the chance to coach for a different NHL team.
Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon began his media availability Tuesday to briefly discuss Cassidy's predicament, suggesting the fired coach will be able to talk to teams only after the Golden Knights are eliminated.
McCrimmon Addresses NHL Upholding Punishment Ahead of Western Conference Finals
DENVER, May 19th, 2026- The Vegas Golden Knights have been in the news for all the wrong reasons over the last few days. On Thursday, they beat the Anaheim Ducks in six games, punching their ticket to the Western Conference Finals for the fifth time in nine seasons. That's what should have been the story– the decisive victory, and the unparalleled level of success marked by their 76th postseason win in nine years.
You can argue Vegas shouldn't grant permission to a Pacific Division rival like the currently coach-less Edmonton Oilers, but there are only so many coaching job openings in any given year, and they're actively preventing Cassidy from getting back into the coaching game.
This, for a coach who delivered the Golden Knights their only Stanley Cup championship. The level of disrespect for Cassidy is outrageous, and it must end immediately.
The reason Vegas could hire John Tortorella as Cassidy's replacement is that the Philadelphia Flyers had Tortorella under contract and chose to give the Golden Knights permission to hire him. The Flyers were in a big push for the playoffs and did not give the same excuse McCrimmon gave. There was no petty, small-minded decision to keep Tortorella on the sidelines – and if there was, we'd be pointing an accusatory finger at the Flyers for doing so.
One press conference where management tries in vain to rationalize the Golden Knights' action won't stop this from being an ongoing issue for them.
The NHL's coaching community is small but tight, so you'd better believe Vegas' treatment of Cassidy could hurt them when the Golden Knights need another bench boss.
Report: Golden Knights Reject Kings Permission To Speak With Bruce Cassidy
The Los Angeles Kings have reportedly expressed mutual interest in Bruce Cassidy as their next head coach, but have not yet been given permission to speak with him.
It's one thing to change coaches with a few games left in the season. It's another thing entirely to tell the coach you've just fired that they don't deserve the ability of being allowed to find another coaching gig right away.
Thus, the Golden Knights will continue being rightfully ripped every day until they completely cut Cassidy loose. McCrimmon made a calculated decision with Cassidy that he thought was right, but we're here to say that decision was wrong.
Cassidy deserved better from Vegas than the way they've treated him since firing him. They can try justifying it all they like, but it won't work.
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This story was originally published May 20, 2026 at 3:14 PM.