NHL Rumors: New Team Linked To Bruce Cassidy
Bruce Cassidy has a Stanley Cup, a Jack Adams Award, and no job.
David Pagnotta of SiriusXM NHL Network Radio reported this week on the Hot Stove program that Cassidy has emerged as a candidate for the Kings' head coaching position.
The Kings fired Jim Hiller on March 1, replaced him with interim head coach D.J. Smith for the remainder of the regular season, and now face a summer search for a permanent solution.
It is their fourth coaching change in seven seasons.
Cassidy was fired by the Vegas Golden Knights on March 29 after a disappointing season that left Vegas third in the Pacific Division, a result that surprised a lot of people given what he had produced there previously.
Why Cassidy Makes Sense for Los Angeles
The Kings lost Anze Kopitar to retirement this past season, closing the chapter on the franchise's greatest player and the anchor of two Stanley Cup championships.
That departure requires a reset in organizational identity, and the kind of culture shift a coaching change can produce.
Cassidy's resume is built on exactly that.
In three and a half seasons with the Golden Knights, he never coached a team that finished below .500 and led Vegas to 50-plus wins in two of those three full seasons.
His 2019-20 Bruins won the Presidents' Trophy.
Bruce Cassidy broke down the Canes PP 🧠 pic.twitter.com/AA6qi2ZXff
— NHLonTNT (@NHL_On_TNT) May 9, 2026
He won the Cup in 2023.
The Hockey Writers' Sharlette Shahbazyan also made the case, noting that the Kings' issues with their 1-2-2 system have created a structural mismatch for a roster that features talent in Quinton Byfield, Brandt Clarke, and Alex Turcotte.
Cassidy's system is different, more aggressive in terms of forward pressure and defensive zone accountability, and could unlock what the Kings have been unable to access under multiple coaching regimes.
He also has Pacific Division experience, which means he knows the rosters and tendencies of the Kings' most direct competitors.
The Complication
One report indicated earlier this week that the Kings may not be the right fit for Cassidy, suggesting he might not view Los Angeles as his preferred destination.
That is consistent with what has been reported about Cassidy's general approach to his coaching search, which is that he wants the right situation rather than simply any available job.
The Kings sit in an interesting middle ground. They are talented enough to contend but have not broken through in the postseason. They need to rebuild their identity after Kopitar, and they need a coach who can develop the young talent already in the building while maintaining the competitive expectations of a franchise market.
Bruce Cassidy talks about how to handle a goalie tandem come playoff time 🤔
— NHLonTNT (@NHL_On_TNT) May 10, 2026
"You tend to want to go with the hot hand... but at some point I think you will see a rotation" pic.twitter.com/fHht1TnVwV
Whether that combination appeals to Cassidy more than another destination, including the Oilers or Maple Leafs, who have also been linked to him publicly, will determine how seriously this conversation progresses.
Photo Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images