Bruce Cassidy’s Frustration With Vegas Could Be Hinting at Oilers Interest

Former Vegas Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy finally broke his silence regarding the ongoing situation preventing him from interviewing with other NHL clubs, and his comments are only going to intensify speculation surrounding the Edmonton Oilers head coaching vacancy.

Appearing on the popular Spittin’ Chiclets podcast, Cassidy openly admitted his frustration with the Golden Knights for denying interview requests from teams interested in hiring him.“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.”

Cassidy then added another revealing statement: “They just decided they don’t want me working at certain places and I gotta figure out a way to allow me to do that.” Those comments immediately sparked conversation across the hockey world, especially in Edmonton, where the Oilers are aggressively searching for their next bench boss after moving on from Kris Knoblauch following a disappointing first-round playoff exit.

Cassidy-to-Edmonton Rumours Continue to Grow

The Oilers have been heavily linked to Cassidy for weeks, with reports previously surfacing that Edmonton requested permission to speak with him but were denied by Vegas. The Los Angeles Kings are believed to be another club that showed interest.

“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

What stands out most from Cassidy’s latest comments is how personal the situation appears to be becoming. Rather than sounding content waiting for his contract situation to resolve naturally, Cassidy sounded motivated to actively find a solution.

That has led many around the league to believe Edmonton may still be his preferred destination. The Oilers are in win-now mode with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl still leading the franchise. After a disappointing season ending far earlier than expected, ownership and management appear determined to bring in a veteran coach with a stronger defensive structure and Stanley Cup pedigree.

Cassidy fits that description perfectly.

He won a Stanley Cup with Vegas in 2023, has consistently coached elite defensive systems throughout his NHL career, and has experience handling star players and high-pressure markets. Those are qualities the Oilers desperately need after years of inconsistency defensively and postseason collapses.

Vegas Still Holds the Power

The complicated part is that Cassidy technically remains under contract with Vegas despite being fired in March. Because of that, the Golden Knights still control whether other teams can formally interview or hire him unless a resolution is reached.

That leaves several possible outcomes.

Vegas could eventually soften its stance once the playoffs conclude, especially if they no longer view Edmonton or Los Angeles as direct threats. Another possibility is Cassidy negotiating some form of release or contract termination that would allow him to freely pursue coaching opportunities elsewhere.

The NHL Coaches’ Association is also reportedly monitoring the situation closely, as questions continue to arise regarding how long a team can realistically block a fired coach from pursuing employment elsewhere.

Oilers Waiting Patiently?

For now, the Oilers continue doing their due diligence while Cassidy’s future remains unresolved. Edmonton has reportedly explored other coaching candidates, but the smoke surrounding Cassidy refuses to disappear.

And after hearing Cassidy publicly state he wants “to go to work” while trying to “figure out a way” to make it happen, it is becoming harder to ignore the possibility that Edmonton may be exactly where he wants to land.

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