Vegas blocking Edmonton Oilers from interviewing Bruce Cassidy: report
The Edmonton Oilers are reportedly trying to interview Bruce Cassidy, but the Vegas Golden Knights are making things difficult.
With the future of Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch in question, it appears Edmonton is actively searching for his successor while he’s still with the organization. Knoblauch has not been officially fired by the Oilers, but new reports say the team is actively targeting Cassidy to take over his role.
Frank Seravalli reported on Monday that Edmonton has requested permission to speak to Cassidy, but the Golden Knights have, so far, withheld permission. This doesn’t mean Vegas has outright denied permission. Instead, they are making the Oilers wait for an answer.
“League sources say Oilers have sought permission to interview Bruce Cassidy as they contemplate significant coaching staff changes,” Seravalli reported. “To this point, sources say Golden Knights have withheld permission from divisional rival.
“Gamesmanship? Perhaps. Mostly unprecedented for the role.”
League sources say #Oilers have sought permission to interview Bruce Cassidy as they contemplate significant coaching staff changes.
To this point, sources say @GoldenKnights have withheld permission from division rival.
Gamesmanship? Perhaps. Mostly unprecedented for role.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) May 12, 2026
Edmonton will need to gain permission to interview the veteran head coach, as Cassidy is still under contract with the team despite being relieved of his duties before the playoffs. His contract with the Golden Knights is set to expire at the end of next season.
The Oilers would not need to give up any compensation if they wind up gaining permission and hiring Cassidy.
According to Seravalli, who appeared on Edmonton’s Sports 1440 on Tuesday morning, this move by the Golden Knights has ruffled some feathers from other coaches around the NHL.
“Teams typically and customarily grant permission with enthusiasm, not just because it’s the right thing to do for a guy you’ve already fired, but also for business purposes,” Seravalli said.
“My phone has been lighting up with messages from coaches around the league this morning who are fired up, saying ‘This is one step too far’… They’re upset because they see this as potentially a quality opportunity that, perhaps, Bruce Cassidy might be boxed out of.”
The Golden Knights could save some money if they allowed Cassidy to be hired by the Oilers as well. As it stands, Vegas is on the hook to pay Cassidy $4.5 million over the final year of his deal, but will only need to pay the difference if he gets hired by another NHL team.
If Edmonton steps up and pays Cassidy $5 million on a new deal, the Golden Knights wouldn’t owe a dime to their former head coach.
This is a surefire sign that the Oilers organization is considering major changes heading into the offseason. Knoblauch did lead Edmonton to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals, but the team took a massive step back this season, and can’t afford to wait things out with Connor McDavid.
Cassidy has been among the NHL’s best coaches over the past decade and won the Stanley Cup with Vegas back in 2023. The 60-year-old also has gained a reputation as being one of the more fiery coaches across the league, which would definitely be a change from Knoblauch’s more even-keeled personality.
With how timid Edmonton played throughout all of last season, perhaps a little fire is exactly what this group needs from their next head coach.
This is the type of head coach the Oilers should be targeting this summer, but they will need the Golden Knights to get out of the way before they can do it.