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NHLCA calls Vegas block on Bruce Cassidy ‘unprecedented’
Oilers Golden Knights Kings Bruce Cassidy
Photo credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Zach Laing
May 19, 2026, 16:30 EDTUpdated: May 19, 2026, 17:42 EDT
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The National Hockey League’s Coaches Association has released a statement in defence of Bruce Cassidy, calling the Vegas Golden Knights’ potentially denying him speaking to other NHL teams “unprecedented.”
The statement comes a week after news broke that the Oilers had been trying to receive permission to speak with Cassidy and that the Golden Knights had been stalling them and the Los Angeles Kings from doing so.
The NHLCA has been closely monitoring the situation involving Bruce Cassidy. While we respect the League’s rules and processes, it is our position that coaches who remain under contract, but are no longer working for their club, should not be prevented from pursuing other employment opportunities. It would be unprecedented at the head coaching level should multiple teams be denied permission to speak with Coach Cassidy. The situation is still unfolding, but our priority is to protect the interests of our members in this type of circumstance.
The NHLCA is led by Lindsay Pennell, who began consulting for the organization in 2016 before being promoted to president in 2019. She was appointed the organization’s executive director on Sept. 1, 2023.
The association isn’t often heard from. In fact, its most recent statement in relation to ongoing news came in October 2021, when they spoke out about the Jenner & Block report detailing the Chicago Blackhawks sexual assault case when former player Kyle Beach sued the organization for alleged sexual assault by then-video coach Brad Aldrich.
It felt as though it were a matter of time before the association spoke out regarding Cassidy’s employment status. Fired by the team late in the regular season, Cassidy had one year left on a contract paying him $4.5 million, and said last Friday during an appearance on the NHL Network he was ready to get back behind a bench.
The NHL, meanwhile, isn’t expected to overrule the Golden Knights “if Vegas wants to go to the mat here and not grant Cassidy permission to speak to a division rival,” NHL insider Frank Seravalli reported Monday.
It’s unclear what will come next in this saga, but the coaches association’s firm stance will be one to keep an eye on.
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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