LAS VEGAS (AP) 鈥� Former Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy called it 鈥渦psetting鈥� in a podcast Thursday that he can’t interview with other clubs after Vegas management declined reported requests by Edmonton and Los Angeles.
鈥淭here were two teams that asked,鈥� Cassidy said on the Spittin鈥� Chiclets podcast. “It鈥檚 public knowledge now, and I would like to talk to them. I want to go to work. I鈥檓 a hockey coach.鈥�
The Golden Knights with eight games left in the regular season and Vegas struggling to hold on to a playoff spot. , won the Pacific Division and then defeated Utah, Anaheim and Colorado in the NHL playoffs to .
Vegas opens at Carolina or Montreal on Tuesday or June 4.
Cassidy, who led the Golden Knights and is the organization’s longest-tenured coach, said contracts come with a standard clause that prohibits clubs from allowing even fired coaches to interview elsewhere without permission. He said his deal goes through next season.
鈥淧robably because they don鈥檛 want a coach in the middle of the year to re-sign on Feb. 1 and go work up the street on Feb. 3 because they like a better situation,” Cassidy said of the clause.
The NHL Coaches Association May 19 criticizing the Golden Knights for prohibiting Cassidy’s ability to interview elsewhere.
鈥淚t would be unprecedented at the head coaching level should multiple teams be denied permission to speak with Coach Cassidy,” the statement read. “The situation is still unfolding, but our priority is to protect the interests of our members in this type of circumstance.鈥�
Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon defended the team’s stance in a news conference before the Western Conference Final against the Avalanche.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been consistent that our focus currently is on the Stanley Cup playoffs, and the teams have respected that,鈥� McCrimmon said at the time. 鈥淚鈥檝e spoken with Bruce. He understands this as well.鈥�
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