Golden Knights reportedly deny Oilers request to speak to Stanley Cup-winning coach originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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It was a very disappointing season for the Edmonton Oilers, who now find themselves at a crossroads following their first-round playoff exit at the hands of the Anaheim Ducks.
With superstar center Connor McDavid entering the final two years of his current contract, the clock is ticking on Edmonton’s championship window, and the organization appears willing to make significant changes to get back on track.
One of those changes could come behind the bench. The Oilers hired head coach Kris Knoblauch on Nov. 13, 2023, and while he helped stabilize the franchise and guided them to a 135-77-21 record and back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals appearances, Edmonton is apparently weighing its options for the coaching staff heading into the off-season.
According to NHL Insider Frank Seravalli, who reported via X on Tuesday, league sources have told him that Edmonton has reached out to the Vegas Golden Knights requesting permission to speak with former head coach Bruce Cassidy, with the Oilers contemplating “significant coaching staff changes.”
Cassidy is one of the most attractive names on the coaching market after Vegas made the stunning decision to part ways with him heading into the post-season, replacing him with John Tortorella in a bid to spark the group.
MORE: ‘Average’ Oilers have limited time and options to rework roster for Connor McDavid
That move has seemingly paid off for the Golden Knights, but it has also freed up a Stanley Cup-winning coach. Cassidy led Vegas to the championship in 2023 and carries a significant pedigree as a bench boss at the highest level of the sport.
However, the path to hiring Cassidy is not straightforward, as Seravalli noted that, as of now, Vegas has not granted the Oilers permission to speak with their former coach. Adding another layer of complexity to the situation is that Edmonton and Vegas are division rivals, giving the Golden Knights little incentive to help a direct competitor upgrade its coaching staff.
Whether Vegas changes course over the summer remains to be seen. Still, the report itself speaks volumes about where Edmonton’s mindset is heading into what figures to be a pivotal off-season. With McDavid’s contract situation looming and the pressure of contending now as real as ever, it appears that almost no one in the organization is safe, outside of McDavid and fellow superstar Leon Draisaitl.
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