Bill Daly backs Golden Knights in Bruce Cassidy denial saga

The Vegas Golden Knights are preparing for their third Stanley Cup Final appearance in nine seasons. Amid their playoff run, Vegas has been a pest to two division rivals looking for a new coach. The Golden Knights have not allowed the Edmonton Oilers or Los Angeles Kings to interview Bruce Cassidy for their coaching vacancies. NHL deputy commissioner Billy Daly weighed in on the controversy, slightly taking Vegas’ side.

“Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly says Vegas is within its rights to prevent Bruce Cassidy from interviewing elsewhere — although he does hedge (slightly) by saying we will see what happens when Vegas season is over,” Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported. ‘There are contracts in this league that would prevent this from happening,’ Daly added, ‘but this is not one of them.'”

The Golden Knights’ brass said they are focusing on the playoffs when pressed about the Cassidy situation. If they do not allow the other teams permission to interview the 2023 Stanley Cup Champion, Cassidy will have to sit out the year. Vegas fired him with eight games to go in the regular season, hiring John Tortorella.

If the Golden Knights are truly waiting for the playoffs to end, the Oilers and Kings will have to wait even longer. Vegas is back in the Stanley Cup Final, facing the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1 on Tuesday night. There are other coaching openings around the league, including the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Golden Knights may not bring back Tortorella, even after a Stanley Cup Final run. He only signed through the end of the season and has not signed an extension yet. But the Knights are highly unlikely to bring Cassidy back after firing him in such a stunning move. Will Vegas let Cassidy go to a Pacific Division squad? Or keep holding his rights back?

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