Who Leaked the Cassidy Interview Request by the Oilers?: Insider Has Ruthless Theory

The Edmonton Oilers asked to speak with Bruce Cassidy, presumably for an interview for the head coaching position they don’t currently have open. That they asked is not really the big news, given that this kind of thing happens in the NHL often—teams requesting interviews for jobs before the person who currently holds the position is relieved of their duties. The problem the Oilers now face is how it got out.

---

We can assume it wasn’t the Oilers who leaked it. Doing so puts them in an awkward spot that, no matter how inept you might believe management to be, they know better.

We also should assume it wasn’t Cassidy. Assuming he was even made aware that the Oilers wanted to speak with him, it would jeopardize any opportunities to interview for other positions if teams were made aware that he can’t be trusted to interview without drama.

It could have been an agent or another coach, but from all reports, the coaching fraternity in the NHL is pretty upset about the fact the Golden Knights have stood in the way of him trying to secure future employment. It also seems strange that an agent or another coach would turn around and kick Kris Knoblauch while trying to help Cassidy.

That leaves the Vegas Golden Knights.

Did the Golden Knights Leak the Interview Request?

This is not an accusation, given that there is no proof that Vegas immediately made it public or called Frank Seravalli to tell him the Oilers wanted to speak with Cassidy. However, none of us should be surprised if that’s exactly what they did.

The Golden Knights are a ruthless, win-at-all-costs, almost unethical franchise that isn’t opposed to any tactic. They’ve proven it time and time again with the way they treat their players, coaches, and other personnel in an effort to win the Stanley Cup. Heck, they fired a Cup-winning coach in Cassidy with a handful of games left in the season, and while they were in a playoff spot. Clearly, they aren’t looking to do him any favors now.

That said, this feels like another bit of gamesmanship from a team that would rather pay Cassidy $4.5 million than let him coach a division rival who has been the Cup Final in two of the previous three seasons.

It’s unlikely that the NHL will allow the Golden Knights to keep Cassidy from interviewing. They fired him. As Elliotte Friedman noted, “I was told there has to be… a really good reason for it not to happen.” But, if Vegas wanted this to get out, the fact that the Oilers and Knoblauch are now facing an incredibly awkward future means that the damage has already been done.

To bring Knoblauch back, even if Cassidy isn’t hired, feels unrealistic. He now knows the team was looking to upgrade or replace him. In the locker room, the players all know it too. Who’s to say that wasn’t Vegas’ plan all along? Put a wedge between the organization and their current coach and let the Oilers try to navigate an ugly situation.

There is no proof that Vegas leaked this. That said, it sure sounds like something they would do. Seravalli even teased the idea that if the Vegas waits a season and the Oilers continue to struggle, McDavid will want out of Edmonton, potentially moving the best player in the NHL out of the Pacific Division.

Next: “Ridiculous”: NHL Coaches Blast Golden Knights’ for Cassidy Decision with Oilers