The Vegas Golden Knights terminated coach Bruce Cassidy in late March, and the club has now blocked him from speaking with other NHL teams about potential new positions, even though he still has a year remaining on his contract.
A Coaching Controversy in the NHL
The denial has drawn sharp criticism from rival franchises, especially the Los Angeles Kings and the Edmonton Oilers, both of which have formally requested permission to interview Cassidy, only to be rebuffed by the Knights.
League’s Response and Penalties
The NHL responded with sanctions, levying a fine on the Golden Knights and removing a second‑round draft pick for the team’s refusal to conduct post‑playoff media interviews, penalties that league insiders say will stay in place.
ESPN’s Emily Kaplan confirmed that the disciplinary measures remain as originally assessed, while Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman noted that the league’s commissioner may eventually address the issue, but emphasized that the Golden Knights retain the right to block Cassidy’s moves.
Friedman also warned that such heavy‑handed tactics could bring “bad karma” to the franchise, a sentiment echoed by hockey podcaster Karman Gill, who called the situation “GARBAGE” and suggested it might invite a curse.
Critics have labeled the Knights’ behavior as unprofessional and arrogant, comparing the club to a “Mickey Mouse Organization” and an “Evil Empire,” while other media personalities, including Alex Micheletti and Dan Kingerski, have weighed in on the controversy.
The dispute also involves league heavyweights such as Commissioner Gary Bettman, whose office is monitoring the case, and a host of analysts and former players who have spoken out, including John Tortorella, Lynda Steele, Dave McCarthy, Russell Morgan, Jim Biringer, Ryan Quigley, Tony Cordasco, Zach Wolchuk, and others.