The Oilers have waited patiently to get permission to interview the former Vegas Golden Knights bench boss since at least when the news leaked on May 12.

Vegas seemingly doesn’t want to play ball, and, at least for now, “remain focused on the Stanley Cup playoffs,” as they’ve stated publicly time and time again. Despite that, the Oilers still wait in the midst.

But if they are able to get permission to speak with Cassidy, the team appears ready to make an aggressive offer of salary and term to make him their next head coach, insider David Pagnotta reported on Thursday’s edition of The DFO Rundown.

Pagnotta: It’s clear as day that they want Bruce Cassidy. Somewhere back there, doesn’t want that to happen. At least they’re still saying not now because the playoffs are ongoing. It’ll be really interesting if they continue this after the playoffs, regardless of what happens with this group. But he’s their guy. He’s the guy they want, and they’re willing to pay him a very handsome salary and a term contract, I believe around five years in order to do that.
Gaffar: If Rick Tocchett got five times five (five years, $5-million salary), you got to think Cassidy it at least five times six (five years, $6-million salary).
Pagnotta: That’s the ballpark. I think that’s what it’s going to come down to if they ever get permission.

There’s no public database of coaches’ contracts like there is for players, however, Front Office Sports reported that New York Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan and Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper are the two highest-paid coaches, making $6.5 million and $5.3 million annually.

Pagnotta’s reported price for Cassidy would make him one of the highest-paid coaches in the league.

Could the Oilers hire a one-year coach?

Despite the Oilers’ desire to speak with Cassidy, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported the team is starting to open up their coaching search more.

The team received permission to speak with Craig Berube, who was fired by the Leafs following the end of the season, and there’s a belief the team has interviewed Peter Laviolette, Oilersnation’s Jason Gregor reported in late May.

Friedman doubled down on Gregor’s report, stating it’s his belief that Laviolette has already interviewed with the team, but said he’s less convinced about Edmonton’s desire to wait for Cassidy. More so, Friedman theorized about the Oilers hiring a one-year coach.

Friedman: I had thought they were gonna wait for Cassidy. And I’m starting to get some signal that maybe they won’t. You know, here’s, and I want to stress, this is a theory. Do they bring in someone for a year?
Bukauskas: Now, why do you think they would be just looking at someone for a year?
Friedman: Because after that press conference with Commissioner Bettman and Bill Daly before Game 1, They’ve basically made it sound like it’s up to Vegas’ will to clear him, right? They’ve basically said Vegas is well within his rights and he doesn’t have the language that’s necessary for Edmonton to be able to talk to him. So unless you think the Golden Knights are suddenly going to change their philosophy out of the graciousness of their hearts or whatever, you might have to go down that route.
Bukauskas: So you still see a world where however the dust settles here in this final, we go through the summer and into the fall and the Vegas organization’s still going, ‘Nope, we’re not letting you talk to that team or to that team.’
Friedman: I don’t think it’s impossible. As a matter of fact, privately, that’s the, those are the smoke signals Vegas has sent out. And it would be another year for Cassidy under contract, right?
Bukauskas: After next season. The deal with Vegas is up for him, right?
Friedman: That’s right. June 30th, 2027… I think they’ve interviewed Laviolette recently. I think they’ve interviewed Berube. I’m sure they’ve interviewed others. Would you take a shot with McDavid and Draisaitl for a year if it was presented to you?
Bukauskas: As a coach? Yeah, absolutely. Because then, I mean, what if you pull kind of a Tortorella?
Friedman: Exactly. Again, this is just my theory, but I’ve begun to wonder about this.

It’s undoubtedly an interesting idea, and one that would be unique, as coaches are often looking for security when signing a new contract with a team. There’s been talk about that potentially changing, at least in terms of the language in coaching contracts that would keep situations like what’s happened to Cassidy from occurring again.

Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s managing editor, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the Daily Faceoff DFS Hockey Report. He can be followed on X at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.

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Oilers coaching update: Team ready to pay Cassidy ‘very handsome salary’, term

Could the Oilers hire a one-year coach?

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