One team finally got permission to speak with Bruce Cassidy after Vegas standoff

The coaching saga that has consumed the NHL offseason for weeks has finally reached a turning point. Vegas Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon, speaking at his end-of-season media availability on Wednesday, revealed that the organization has already granted one team permission to speak with former head coach Bruce Cassidy. McCrimmon added that any future requests would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, signalling a significant shift from the blanket refusal that had defined the standoff up to this point.

The identity of the team that received the green light remains unknown, but the timing and context offer some tantalizing clues. McCrimmon explained that the permission was given “near the middle” of the Cup Final series, but that it did not come to fruition.

The Los Angeles Kings and Toronto Maple Leafs, both of which were previously linked to Cassidy, have since hired new head coaches, effectively removing themselves from the race. There has been also the Edmonton Oilers, who could remain suitor, seeing that they have been at the center of this drama from the very beginning.

The Cassidy situation had become one of the most contentious stories of the summer. Despite being relieved of his coaching duties, Cassidy remained under contract with Vegas for approximately $4.5 million, giving the Golden Knights full control over whether rival teams could even hold a conversation with him. Multiple organizations reportedly sought permission to interview the veteran bench boss, but Vegas consistently refused, citing its focus on the playoffs and competitive concerns.

The dispute took on an especially personal dimension when McCrimmon publicly accused the Oilers of leaking the story to the media, claiming the situation was “only news because Edmonton leaked it.” That accusation injected fresh animosity into an already tense dynamic between two Pacific Division rivals. The Oilers and Kings were widely believed to be the two franchises that had formally requested interviews with Cassidy, and handing a Stanley Cup-winning coach to a direct divisional opponent was something the Vegas front office appeared deeply reluctant to do.

Cassidy himself weighed in during a podcast appearance, calling the experience “upsetting” and expressing a straightforward desire to return to coaching.

The league sided with Vegas on the contractual question, confirming that the Golden Knights were within their rights to block interview requests. NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported that certain coaching contracts contain clauses requiring dismissed coaches to actively seek new employment, which could theoretically limit a team’s ability to block suitors.

If the Oilers are indeed the team that has been cleared to speak with Cassidy, the move would carry enormous implications for the Western Conference. Edmonton has been navigating its own turbulent offseason, and the ongoing investigation into former coach Mike Babcock has added urgency to the team’s search for a new voice behind the bench. Cassidy’s defensive expertise, extensive playoff resume, and familiarity with the Pacific Division would make him a natural fit for an Oilers roster built to contend.

Some fans also wondered if the Maple Leafs were the one that were granted permission and interviewed Cassidy, only to choose Jim Hiller as their new head coach instead.

McCrimmon’s willingness to now evaluate requests individually suggests the pressure from players, agents, rival executives, and the coaching community may have finally moved the needle. Whatever happens next, the Cassidy saga has already reshaped the conversation around coaching rights in professional hockey.