Insider Links Free Agent Coach Bruce Cassidy to Western Conf. Team

It was a shock around the hockey world when the Vegas Golden Knights fired head coach Bruce Cassidy with eight games left in the regular season last month.

Make no mistake, Cassidy will be able to pick and choose his next job behind a bench in the NHL, as there will be no shortage of teams interested in bringing him in. One of those teams, a club where there are serious questions being asked about their current bench boss, is the Edmonton Oilers.

After a first-round flameout this year following two straight seasons of going to the Stanley Cup Finals, the Oilers need to figure out how to make significant changes to get themselves back on track for next season. Insider Darren Dreger said this week on the Sekeres & Price Show that Edmonton's current head coach has got to be looking over his shoulder at this point.

There's a ton of heat on Kris Knoblauch, I get that. But where is that heat coming from? Probably because there's a decorated guy, his name is Bruce Cassidy, waiting out there for his next opportunity.

It would be no surprise to anyone if Cassidy, who tasted the success of a Stanley Cup championship just three years ago, would want to hitch his wagon to the superstar duo of Connor McDavid & Leon Draisaitl, who came oh-so-close to their own Cup tastings.

It certainly makes a ton of sense. Cassidy himself said recently he wants to "get back in it right away... I'm already going bananas here and it's only been a month." But he also added that having a chance to win another Cup would be at the top of his list.

"You try to find a good fit for yourself. For me, it's about winning all the time. A chance to win, players want their name on the Cup, so do we as coaches and managers."

He also added recently that doing it in his home country (that would be Canada) is another thing on his bucket list.

"I tell you what would be cool: To win a Stanley Cup in a Canadian city right now because it's been a while."

Now it's just up to the Oilers to do their part, to make it all come together.

The clock is ticking for Edmonton, as McDavid has only two years under contract, and most observers feel that next season is do-or-die. Another failure to reach the promised land for McJesus, and it's quite likely he'll ask to move on.

To repeat Dreger's sentiment: it all adds up to there being "a ton of heat on Kris Knoblauch."