Out-Of-Work Coach Bruce Cassidy To Be Approached By NHL Team In-Season: Insider

The Vegas Golden Knights whipped up controversy around the league last spring, when they refused to grant division rival Edmonton Oilers permission to speak with their recently deposed (but still under-contract) head coach Bruce Cassidy. 

The Stanley Cup-winning coach is still without a job this season, as the right opportunity (and the necessary permission from Vegas) never came along. He is still under contract to the Golden Knights through the end of this season.

But insider Frank Seravalli said on EST Afternoons that we shouldn't be surprised if Cassidy is approached with a serious offer this season, and the Golden Knights will once again have a decision to make.

Some team is going to try and jump to the front of the line to get Bruce Cassidy if they can get permission to do so. I don't know if that's going to be the Chicago Blackhawks, the Winnipeg Jets, pick another team around the league that has struggled to start and a coaching change might be in the offing. Someone will do it. It's a question of can they convince Bruce Cassidy to make it happen? And more importantly, the Golden Knights. I think probably someone out of their division will do it.

In Winnipeg, Scott Arniel's job is probably still on shaky ground, even after that miraculous four-goal late-game comeback this week against Montreal. 

"I still think that a coaching change is absolutely necessary" for the Jets, said Seravalli. But the Cassidy projection "is probably not related to Winnipeg."

In addition to winning the Cup with the Golden Knights in 2023, Cassidy also took the Boston Bruins to the Finals in 2019 and overall has an impressive .630 points percentage as a head coach in the NHL across 829 regular-season games (470-254-96). His career playoff mark is 62-57 (.521). 

What teams do you think Cassidy would be a candidate for this season? Let us know in the comments.