Despite firing Bruce Cassidy back in late March, the Vegas Golden Knights still hold the keys to his future, and they are not letting go. With Vegas refusing to permit rival teams to speak with Cassidy while he remains under contract, the coaching situation has turned into one of the NHL offseason’s biggest standoffs.
Now, Edmonton Oilers legend Craig MacTavish has stepped into the debate, making it clear he does not believe the deadlock will last much longer.
Bruce Cassidy Situation Continues to Drag On as Oilers Legend Chimes In
Last week, the Oilers reportedly asked permission to interview Cassidy in their search for a replacement for former head coach Kris Knoblauch. However, Vegas stonewalled the request.
There are a few possible reasons behind the decision. One reason could be that Vegas, currently in the Western Conference Final, does not want outside distractions. There’s also growing speculation that the Golden Knights simply do not want to help a Pacific Division rival solve its coaching situation.
On Monday, the Golden Knights met with the NHL over sanctions tied to a media access violation, but Bruce Cassidy’s situation was reportedly not discussed. Vegas still won’t grant permission to Edmonton or LA. However, the Toronto Maple Leafs could still emerge as a possibility since they play outside the division.
Oilers legend Craig MacTavish made it clear he expects the situation to resolve itself once the season comes to an end.
“That’s going to run its course, in my opinion, once the season is over. I mean, Vegas is in enough trouble right now. Obviously, they’re not afraid to make unpopular moves with personnel, whether it’s players or coaches,” MacTavish noted.
He added that he would be “shocked” if Cassidy and Edmonton ultimately failed to find common ground once the offseason is in full swing.
MacTavish’s comments suggest he believes the leverage will eventually swing back toward Cassidy and the Oilers after the Stanley Cup Final concludes.
Oilers Facing Pressure to Make a Decision
The bigger issue for Edmonton is time. By moving on from Knoblauch after reports of their Cassidy pursuit surfaced, general manager Stan Bowman created a coaching vacancy during one of the most important stretches of the offseason.
If Vegas continues dragging the situation into June, the Oilers may have no choice but to pivot to other candidates rather than wait indefinitely on Cassidy.
One name already connected to Edmonton is former Toronto Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube, with whom the Oilers have reportedly held talks.
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For now, though, Cassidy’s future remains stuck in limbo, and the longer Vegas holds firm, the more complicated Edmonton’s coaching search could become.
