Bruce Cassidy calls it 'upsetting' as Golden Knights block him from coaching interviews

Vegas Golden Knights caput manager Bruce Cassidy stands down his seat during the 3rd play of an NHL hockey crippled against the Pittsburgh Penguins successful Pittsburgh, March 1, 2026. Cassidy was abruptly fired March 29, 2026, but remains nether declaration with Vegas. Photo by: Gene J. Puskar / AP

Former Golden Knights manager Bruce Cassidy called it “upsetting” successful a podcast Thursday that helium can't interrogation with different clubs aft Vegas absorption declined reported requests by Edmonton and Los Angeles.

“There were 2 teams that asked,” Cassidy said connected the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast. "It’s nationalist cognition now, and I would similar to speech to them. I privation to spell to work. I’m a hockey coach.”

The Golden Knights fired Cassidy with 8 games near successful the regular play and Vegas struggling to clasp connected to a playoff spot. John Tortorella replaced Cassidy, won the Pacific Division and past defeated Utah, Anaheim and Colorado successful the NHL playoffs to reach the Stanley Cup Final.

Vegas opens astatine Carolina oregon Montreal connected Tuesday oregon June 4.

Cassidy, who led the Golden Knights to the 2023 Stanley Cup and is the organization's longest-tenured coach, said contracts travel with a modular clause that prohibits clubs from allowing adjacent fired coaches to interrogation elsewhere without permission. He said his woody goes done adjacent season.

“Probably due to the fact that they don’t privation a manager successful the mediate of the twelvemonth to re-sign connected Feb. 1 and spell enactment up the thoroughfare connected Feb. 3 due to the fact that they similar a amended situation," Cassidy said of the clause.

The NHL Coaches Association issued a statement May 19 criticizing the Golden Knights for prohibiting Cassidy's quality to interrogation elsewhere.

“It would beryllium unprecedented astatine the caput coaching level should aggregate teams beryllium denied support to talk with Coach Cassidy," the connection read. "The concern is inactive unfolding, but our precedence is to support the interests of our members successful this benignant of circumstance.”

Golden Knights wide manager Kelly McCrimmon defended the team's stance successful a quality league earlier the Western Conference Final against the Avalanche.

“We’ve been accordant that our absorption presently is connected the Stanley Cup playoffs, and the teams person respected that,” McCrimmon said astatine the time. “I’ve spoken with Bruce. He understands this arsenic well.”