Bruce Cassidy sounds off on Golden Knights blocking teams from speaking to him.

Since joining the ranks of the National Hockey League in the 2017-2018 season, the Vegas Golden Knights have established a reputation around the league as a cutthroat win-at-all-costs type of organization, an attitude that has led them to great success in a very short time frame.

Recently however the Golden Knights competitive mantra has seen them face a level of criticism they have not had to deal with before, specifically as it pertains to their treatment of former Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy.

Cassidy achieved great success as head coach of the Golden Knights, winning a Stanley cup with the organization during the 2022-2023 season, but despite the success he helped the organization achieve, the Golden Knights have deemed it acceptable to block Cassidy from opportunities to continue his NHL career after being fired by the Golden Knights earlier this season. Specifically, reports that Cassidy had been blocked from discussing coaching vacancies in both the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings organization caused quite a stir on social media and within the larger hockey community.

Blocking a coach from talking to other teams after that coach has already been fired is not standard practice in the NHL and Cassidy has since taken to speaking out publicly about the treatment he has received at the hands of the Golden Knights.

"It's upsetting I'm gonna be honest," said Cassidy of the controversy. "Once you're fired, your contract is basically terminated."

Cassidy points out that he doesn't even have the option of forfeiting the salary guaranteed to him in his contract in order to go work elsewhere, due to the non-compete clause within his current contract.

"One thing people don't realize is... you have non-compete clauses," said Cassidy. "So I can't resign today and go work for someone tomorrow. I can't work until Vegas gives me permission, until this contract is up at the end of next season. If I resign all I do is not get paid."

Cassidy also confirmed the rumors that have been floating around regarding the Oilers and Kings requesting permission to speak with him.

"In this case yes there was two teams that asked, that's public knowledge now, and I would like to talk to them," admitted Cassidy. "I want to go to work, I am a hockey coach."