Bruce Cassidy still wants to coach. @MikeKellyNHL and @EJHradek_NHL spoke with Cassidy about what's next in his coaching career. 📺: #NHLTNFirstShift weekdays at 4p ET on NHL Network
Nation Sites
The Nation Network
OilersNation has no direct affiliation to the Edmonton Oilers, Oilers Entertainment Group, NHL, or NHLPA
Bruce Cassidy confirms Vegas still hasn’t given permission to interview: ‘It’s what I want to do’
Photo credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
May 14, 2026, 19:00 EDTUpdated: May 14, 2026, 19:19 EDT
Bruce Cassidy wants to coach in the NHL. But so far, he can’t interview with other teams to get his next job.
The former Vegas Golden Knights head coach is the league’s hottest hiring candidate and joined NHL Network on Thursday. He confirmed that he’s not talked to any other team, despite the Edmonton Oilers asking, according to Frank Seravalli’s report.
“No,” said Cassidy about talking to teams.
“I think right now, Vegas has to grant permission and they’re in the middle of a playoff series right now. I know they had to deal with Brayden McNabb, hearing yesterday, and stuff.
“I’m going to respect that they have other things on their plate, but hopefully at some point. I know a couple of teams have reached out – so (hopefully) they can allow me to do that because I’m a coach. It’s what I want to do.”
The head coaching vacancy in Edmonton is official now as Kris Knoblauch and assistant coach Mark Stuart were let go, the team announced on Thursday morning.
Taking Cassidy at his word, that means Vegas’ permission status hasn’t changed since Tuesday, when the initial report came out that Vegas was withholding permission for others to talk to their dismissed coach, who still has a year left on his contract.
It also confirms muddled reporting on whether the Los Angeles Kings spoke to Cassidy last week, which was put out there by LA local reporter John Rosen. He double-downed on that reporting on Wednesday. However, after “digging into it” Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said Wednesday that LA hadn’t been given permission either.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are also now linked to Cassidy, but Friedman suggested that the soon to be 61-year-old coach would see Edmonton as desirable.
In Thursday’s press conference, Oilers general manager Stan Bowman refused to comment on whether Edmonton reached out to Vegas. He said that would not be “appropriate.”
With no mention of Cassidy, Bowman said the Oilers will have a wide search for their next head coach. It’s the team’s first public head coaching search since 2019.
There’s precedence of Vegas not allowing other teams to interview their staff, according to Friedman.
“Whether it was AHL coaches, or to move up to the NHL, or just other coaches to move,” said Friedman on Wednesday. “So it’s not the first time that this has happened. What I don’t know yet is if they’re going to be league involvement here.”
Michael Menzies is an Oilersnation columnist and co-host of PreGaming and Oilersnation After Dark. He’s also been the play-by-play voice of the Bonnyville Pontiacs in the AJHL since 2019. With seven years of news experience as the Editor-at-Large of Lakeland Connect in Bonnyville, Menzies collects vinyl, books, and stomach issues. Follow him on X at Menzies_4.
ARTICLE PRESENTED BY bet365
Breaking News
- Bruce Cassidy confirms Vegas still hasn’t given permission to interview: ‘It’s what I want to do’
- Bowman: Knoblauch ‘earned’ his three-year extension, but now Oilers need a new voice
- Oilers’ GM Stan Bowman takes responsibility for struggles after firing Kris Knoblauch
- Bowman denies reports Evan Bouchard played with concussion during NHL playoffs
- Bowman says Oilers will cast ‘wide search’ for new head coach