New twist uncovered in Bruce Cassidy contract standoff with Vegas!

The Bruce Cassidy situation just took another interesting turn. For weeks, NHL teams looking for a new head coach have been frustrated by the fact that the Vegas Golden Knights continue to block access to Cassidy, who remains under contract despite no longer being behind their bench.

Now, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman has shed new light on why the situation may be far more complicated than many originally believed.

Speaking on the latest episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast, Friedman explained that the NHL has sided with Vegas in the ongoing dispute. Because Cassidy remains under contract with the organization, the Golden Knights are within their rights to prevent other teams from interviewing him.

Friedman also noted that Cassidy cannot simply walk away from the remainder of his contract or voluntarily give up his salary in order to join another team.

But the most intriguing part of the discussion came when Friedman revealed that not every coaching contract around the league is structured this way.

According to Friedman, after speaking with sources following comments made by NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly, some coaching contracts contain clauses requiring a dismissed coach to actively seek new employment. In those situations, a team may not be able to block interview requests from other organizations without a valid reason. The implication is clear: if Cassidy’s contract contained those provisions, Vegas might not be able to maintain its current position.

Friedman admitted he has not seen Cassidy’s actual contract, but he suspects there are specific clauses in place that make it much more difficult for the veteran coach to separate himself from the Golden Knights.

Friedman also explained that he came away with the impression that the decision to keep Cassidy off the market may not be coming solely from hockey operations.

Based on recent comments from general manager Kelly McCrimmon, he believes ownership could be playing a significant role in the decision.

Friedman also pointed out that this would not be the first time the Golden Knights ownership group has taken a similar approach. A comparable situation reportedly occurred years ago involving former coach Rocky Thompson in the American Hockey League.

For now, the status quo remains unchanged. But thanks to Friedman’s latest reporting, fans may finally have a better understanding of why Cassidy remains stuck in coaching limbo.