NHL insider reveals reason why Vegas won't let Edmonton Oilers interview Cassidy
The Vegas Golden Knights are playing hardball with the Edmonton Oilers when it comes to Bruce Cassidy, and we might know the reason why.
It’s no secret that the Oilers are targeting Cassidy to become their next head coach, but they are being blocked by Vegas. Cassidy still has one year remaining on his Golden Knights contract and, despite being fired, any team looking to hire him will need to get permission from Vegas.
So far, it seems like the Golden Knights are not willing to play ball. GM Kelly McCrimmon told reporters on Tuesday that they are aware of the interest in Cassidy, but that they are focused on the playoffs at this moment.
“Regarding Bruce Cassidy, teams have asked for permission to speak with Bruce,” McCrimmon said. “We’ve been consistent that our focus is currently on the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the teams have respected that.
“I’ve spoken with Bruce; he understands this as well.”
🗣️ Kelly McCrimmon w/ John Tortorella
"We missed a great opportunity to connect with our fans… that's on John and myself”
“We have no explanation other than to say ‘we’re wrong”#GoAvsGo #forgedingold
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— Guerilla Sports (@guerillasports) May 19, 2026
However, it seems like the real reason behind Vegas’ apprehension might be based on a little insecurity.
According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the Golden Knights could be afraid that letting the Oilers hire Cassidy could bite them down the line.
“I had a couple of people who told me that after Vegas fired Peter DeBoer, he went to Dallas and had three-straight years in the Western Conference Final,” Friedman said on Tuesday’s edition of OilersNow. “I heard inside the Golden Knights organization it was kinda like ‘This guy, we fired him, and he beat us,’ and I think this left a pretty sour taste.
“I initially said I’m not sure I buy that, and then after I said it, I started getting calls and texts from people saying, ‘You better start buying that, because that’s very much at the heart of this.'”
It’s a strange perspective for Vegas to have, considering they defeated DeBoer in the 2023 Western Conference Final and went on to win the Stanley Cup. The former coach got his revenge in 2024, but why would the Golden Knights care that much after coming off a championship?
Regardless, Friedman made it seem that having a former coach go on to have great success hit a nerve with Vegas.
It’s certainly in the realm of possibility that Cassidy coaching the Oilers could haunt Vegas in the very near future. The Golden Knights were eliminated by Edmonton in the second round of the 2025 playoffs, and were on a collision course for a rematch this season before the Anaheim Ducks upset the Oilers.
It begs the question, however, if Vegas was so afraid of what Cassidy could do against them, why rush to fire him? The Golden Knights were in line to win the Pacific Division when he got fired, and are back in the Western Conference Final with Tortorella as his replacement.
Pressure is mounting on Vegas to let Cassidy interview with the Oilers, and no matter what happens, the end result will catch plenty of headlines.