Insider Reveals Cassidy Firing Was 11 Months in the Making

Bruce Cassidy and Vegas Golden Knight players during a time out

The Vegas Golden Knights pulled what seems to be a desperation move by firing head coach Bruce Cassidy with just eight games to play in the regular season. But insider Elliotte Friedman told Sportsnet and said on his 32 Thoughts podcast, that the breakdown between the coach and his players dates back to last May, when they were knocked out of the playoffs.

Bruce Cassidy is a great coach, but he is demanding... He's kind of like one of those guys, 3-4 years, and he really starts to grind on players.
Last year, in the Edmonton series, when the Oilers beat them (in the second round, in five games), I heard that just before Game 5, there was a really tense meeting between Cassidy and some of those players. And I think it kind of frayed their relationship, and players didn't like what was said. And I know some players were pretty blunt in their exit meetings and said some things to management. Management backed Cassidy (at the time), but it seems to be pretty obvious this year, and obviously, Vegas management realized it too, that his message just wasn't getting through anymore. The relationship between Cassidy and his players just wasn't as strong as it used to be, and sometimes, it's just time.

It was obviously 'time' for a new voice. But as Friedman also noted, their incoming new head coach "isn't exactly the Easter Bunny."

If Cassidy was a "tough, hard, demanding guy," as the insider put it, then it should be interesting to see how the players take to John Tortorella. If any coach in recent NHL memory is tough and demanding on his players, it's Torts.

Now, we should note that there are many players around the league who loved playing for Tortorella, including highly respected veteran defenseman Erik Johnson, who came out on social media defending Torts.

So happy that Torts gets another crack in the NHL. Learned a TON from him my two years in Philly. Will be an instant boost for Vegas. He is a straight shooter and you know exactly where you stand, even if you don’t like it. The passion and fire is still there. LOVED playing for… https://t.co/Ng4M32rlBy
— Erik Johnson (@6ErikJohnson) March 29, 2026

"So happy that Torts gets another crack in the NHL," said the now-retired 17-year veteran. "Learned a TON from him my two years in Philly. Will be an instant boost for Vegas. He is a straight shooter and you know exactly where you stand, even if you don’t like it. The passion and fire is still there. LOVED playing for him."

We'll see if the Golden Knights get that same warm, fuzzy feeling about Torts over the next eight games + playoffs (if they make it.)

Vegas is in 3rd place in the Pacific Division, three points back of Edmonton and six back of Anaheim. But they are also just four points up on the LA Kings, who currently occupy a non-playoff spot.