‘It’s only news because Edmonton leaked it’: Golden Knights’ McCrimmon comments on Cassidy saga
Just when you think the Vegas Golden Knights have moved on, they add more fuel to the fire.
When appearing on TSN’s Overdrive on Thursday, Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon was asked how the team has prevented other teams from talking with former head coach Bruce Cassidy, whom the team fired with eight games to go in the regular season, including the rival Edmonton Oilers.
McCrimmon pointed the finger at the Oilers for the Golden Knights’ decision reaching the public.
“It’s only news because Edmonton leaked it,” McCrimmon said. “This isn’t something that came out of our organization. … I’ve talked to Bruce as recently as yesterday. I know how he feels. I know he wants to coach. He’s a hell of a coach, and he’s anxious to get going. Coaches, by definition, aren’t real patient people, so I understand what he wants and why he wants it. And at the same time, I work for the Vegas Golden Knights, so my responsibilities are first and foremost to the organization, and that’s as much as I’m going to say on it.”
The news that the Golden Knights were keeping Cassidy from finding a new home, for the time being, broke earlier in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Following the team’s media debacle at the end of its second-round series against the Anaheim Ducks, McCrimmon addressed the rumors, saying that they were true.
“Teams have asked for permission to speak with Bruce,” McCrimmon said last Wednesday. “We’ve been consistent that our focus currently is on the Stanley Cup playoffs, and the teams have respected that. I’ve spoken with Bruce, he understands this as well.”
Earlier in the day, Spittin Chiclets released an interview with Cassidy, with the latter noting that “it’s upsetting” that he hasn’t been able to talk to teams about a new job, also revealing that the two teams that have asked permission are the Oilers and Los Angeles Kings.
“There was two teams that asked. It’s public knowledge now. And I would like to talk to them,” Cassidy said. “I want to go to work. I’m a hockey coach…I want to get back to work. And I got to tell you, get me out of here.”
After Cassidy’s dismissal, the Golden Knights brought in John Tortorella to help guide the ship through the end of the season. After leading the team to finish atop the Pacific Division, Tortorella has seen his new team advance to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 2023, when Cassidy coached Vegas to its first championship.