Vegas Tried to BLOCK Bruce Cassidy, And The NHL Coaches' Association Is NOT Having It!

Alright, Seattle hockey fans, you ready for some absolute drama from the NHL? Because while the playoffs are raging, some seriously wild stuff is going down off the ice, and the Vegas Golden Knights are right in the middle of it. We're talking about a move so brazen, the **NHL Coaches' Association** is now publicly calling them out! Turns out, Vegas has been withholding permission from other teams who want to interview Bruce Cassidy. Seriously? You can't make this up. The Coaches' Association flat out says Cassidy shouldn't be denied the chance to talk to teams. This isn't just a minor squabble, this is about a coach's livelihood and fair play in the league, and it's a terrible look for Vegas.

Vegas's Shady Tactics Are Piling Up

Let's be real, this Cassidy situation isn't the only questionable move coming out of Sin City lately. Remember how Vegas robbed themselves of positive coverage heading into the Western Conference final? Yeah, that's because they were stripped of a **second-round pick** and hit with a massive **$100,000 fine** for violating the NHL’s media policies. Talk about a team shooting themselves in the foot! It makes you wonder what's really going on behind the scenes with that organization. First, you're disrespecting media rules and getting hammered for it, and now you're trying to block a coach from pursuing other opportunities? It absolutely screams of a team that thinks it's above the rules. The rest of the league, and especially the Coaches' Association, is watching, and it's not a good look.

Meanwhile, Around the Hockey World...

While Vegas is making headlines for all the wrong reasons, there's been plenty of other chatter across the league. Down in New Jersey, the Devils confirmed that Sheldon Keefe is returning for the 2026-27 season, even after a disappointing 2025-26 campaign and the departure of GM Tom Fitzgerald. Good for Keefe, getting that vote of confidence. And speaking of old guard, everyone's asking if Father Time has finally caught up to Sergei Bobrovsky. That's a question for another day, but it shows how quickly things can shift in the net. Also, gotta give a shout-out to Montreal fans, whose celebrations after a Game 7 win actually caused microearthquakes! Now that's passion. On the health front, Sabres' Jiri Kulich had a procedure to remove a blood clot, hoping for a speedy recovery for him. And the Lightning are keeping Nick Abruzzese around, re-signing him to a one-year contract. But let's be honest, the big story right now, especially as we're deep into playoff drama, is Vegas's continued antics. You've got the Stanley Cup Playoffs heating up, teams battling for the right to represent the East and West, and then there's Vegas, out here pulling stunts that draw the ire of the NHL Coaches' Association. It's just a reminder that even when the puck isn't being dropped, there's always something wild happening in hockey. We'll be keeping our eyes on this Bruce Cassidy saga, because a coach's right to pursue his career shouldn't be held hostage. Go hockey!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.