Bruce Cassidy upset about Golden Knights blocking interviews: ‘I want to go to work’

Bruce Cassidy spoke out on Thursday about being blocked by his former team, the Vegas Golden Knights, from interviewing for a new head coaching job. And he’s not happy about it.

“It’s upsetting, I’m going to be honest,” he said on the “Spittin’ Chiclets” podcast. “Because once you’re fired, your contract is basically terminated.”

The Golden Knights fired Cassidy on March 29 and, since then, teams have sought to speak with him about their coaching openings. But that requires Vegas’ permission until the expiration of the contract Cassidy signed, which would be at the end of the 2026-27 season.

Last week, Vegas general manager Kelly McCrimmon spoke to reporters in Denver before the start of the Western Conference final, and said that while teams had asked for permission to speak with Cassidy, “We have been consistent that our focus is on the Stanley Cup playoffs, and the teams have respected that.”

McCrimmon continued, “I’ve spoken with Bruce. He understands this as well.”

Even if Cassidy “understands” Vegas’ viewpoint on this, he certainly doesn’t seem to agree with it, and would like to interview for jobs now.

“In this case, there was two teams that asked,” Cassidy said. “That’s public knowledge now, and I would like to talk to them. I want to go to work. I’m a hockey coach.”

“It’s upsetting…There was two teams that asked it’s public knowledge now, and I would like to talk to them. I want to go to work. I’m a hockey coach.”

Bruce Cassidy speaks on Vegas not allowing him to interview for other teams. pic.twitter.com/cXx4ijCKZS

— Spittin’ Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) May 28, 2026

After Cassidy’s podcast appearance, McCrimmon appeared on TSN’s “OverDrive,” a sports talk show, and was asked about Cassidy’s comments.

“Yeah, I spoke to (Cassidy) last week,” McCrimmon said, “prior to our series against the Avalanche. I don’t have any more to say on it at this time. It’s only news because Edmonton leaked it. So this isn’t something that came out of our organization. We’ve been forced to respond to it, which we did prior to our series against the Avalanche.

“But I’ve talked to Bruce. I’ve talked to Bruce as recently as (Wednesday). 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, in addition to what I said a week ago.”

“It’s only news because Edmonton leaked it.” 😳

Kelly McCrimmon on blocking Bruce Cassidy from interviewing with the Oilers#LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/mdwMIAbHiu

— OverDrive (@OverDrive1050) May 28, 2026

Cassidy, a 61-year-old Ottawa native, coached the Golden Knights to a Stanley Cup championship in 2023. He is still being paid by Vegas until his contract expires, and clarified on the podcast that he can’t simply forfeit that money in order to become a coaching free agent.

“You have a non-compete clause, so I can’t resign today and go work for someone tomorrow,” Cassidy explained. “I can’t work until Vegas gives me permission, or until this contract is up, which is at the end of next season. So if I resign, all I do is not get paid.”

The Edmonton Oilers, who fired Kris Knoblauch on May 14, are one of the teams known to have requested to interview Cassidy. They’re a division rival of the Golden Knights, and were the last team to eliminate them from the playoffs, when they beat Vegas in five games in the second round of last year’s postseason. This season, Cassidy’s replacement, John Tortorella, has taken the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Final.

The NHL Coaches’ Association released a statement on May 19 regarding Cassidy’s situation.

“The NHLCA has been closely monitoring the situation involving Bruce Cassidy,” the statement read. “While we respect the league’s rules and processes, it is our position that coaches who remain under contract, but are no longer working for their club, should not be prevented from pursuing other employment opportunities. It would be unprecedented at the head coaching level should multiple teams be denied permission to speak with coach Cassidy. The situation is still unfolding, but our priority is to protect the interests of our members in this type of circumstance.”